Free Republic

North Carolina Republicans released a second draft of a new Congressional map Tuesday that is worse politically for Democrats than the original version released earlier this month. The new map draws Democratic Reps. Brad Miller and David Price together into Price’s 4th district and puts Democratic Reps. Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell together in Kissell’s 8th district. The first version of the map did not pair any incumbents together and the latest, and likely final version, looks substantially different from that draft and the current map. Tar Heel State Republicans attributed the changes made to the new map largely to...

Republicans Try to Even the Score with New North Carolina Lines Stuart Rothenberg July 1, 2011 · 12:20 PM EDT National Republican strategists, still smarting from creative Democratic map-making in Illinois, finally have a reason to smile. North Carolina Republicans have a new Congressional map that is likely to cost Democrats at least three seats and quite possibly four in 2012. Republican insiders are particularly proud that the new map isn’t radically different from the current one (for example, all incumbents still live in their districts), and they note that relatively small changes have produced a map that should elect...

By GARY D. ROBERTSON, Associated Press Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Federal attorneys said Friday they only have a couple of questions about North Carolina's legislative districts, a sign that the plans may be approved in time for a primary now set for July. The U.S. Department of Justice, writing to a three-judge federal panel in Washington, said the state's latest House and Senate maps don't appear to have been designed to reduce the political power of minority voters. The attorneys also aren't worried that black residents may be worse off compared to maps approved in 2002, except in two...