Redistricting Update
As an update to our last NAAPAC Insider edition, redistricting battles and legal challenges are well underway across several states. Republicans are expected to secure a more favorable map in North Carolina, while Democrats are poised to pick up a seat in Alabama and are hoping for more favorable maps in Louisiana, Georgia and New York. Initially, Republicans were expected to draw a more favorable map in Ohio, but another round of redistricting has now been pushed to the 2026 election cycle.
Alabama
In Alabama, federal judges approved the special master’s map that creates a second heavily Black congressional district. The new congressional map drawn by the special master will immediately go into effect for the 2024 election. This all came about after the U.S. Supreme Court rebuffed in late September a second effort by Alabama state officials to draw a map without a second Black-majority district or something reasonably close to that directive. The new map drawn by the special master dramatically changes Alabama’s 2nd congressional district, which now traverses the width of the state and increases the Black voting-age population percentage from 30.1% to 48.7%. As this new congressional district will presumably favor Democrats, it remains to be seen if Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.-2), the current Congressman, will challenge incumbent Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala-1) to represent Alabama’s 1st congressional district.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, the Republican General Assembly is working to finalize new maps for state and federal offices by the end of October. Changes to existing congressional district boundaries will likely endanger Democratic Reps. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.-13), Jeff Jackson (D-N.C.-14), and Kathy Manning (D-N.C.-6).
Louisiana
In Louisiana, a panel of federal appeals judges in the 5th Circuit Court heard arguments earlier this month that will determine whether the state of Louisianna can continue using the current congressional district maps created by state Republican lawmakers. While it remains unclear how the court will rule, Republicans have contended that it is too geographically difficult to create a second Black majority congressional district.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, the U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments this month to determine whether the state violated the 14th Amendment by using race as a dominant factor when drawing the boundaries of the 1st congressional district currently represented by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.-1). Republicans have argued that they used only political voting data to draw these district boundaries.
New York
In New York, the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, will begin to hear arguments in mid-November to determine whether state Democrats should have another opportunity to redraw the state’s congressional district maps, as those used in 2022 were drawn by a special master. A ruling in favor of Democrats could wipe out many GOP gains in New York from 2022 and further imperil the electoral viability of the six GOP members in New York congressional districts that President Biden carried in 2020.
Georgia
In Georgia, a ruling on a redistricting case is expected around Thanksgiving. The lawsuit centered around a challenge contending that state’s the 2022 map violated the Voting Rights Act. If the district judge throws out the map, Democrats could stand to gain a congressional seat in the Atlanta suburbs.
The NAA Government Affairs team is monitoring these redistricting developments, and NAAPAC continues to support our potentially affected apartment industry allies in both parties. For questions about these redistricting cases or any others on the horizon, please contact Jim Wilson or Rob Johnson.