Phil Berger’s son denies Congressional run after website created amid redistricting efforts

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Longtime Senate Leader Phil Berger’s son, Kevin Berger, says he is not running for Congress. It comes after a website, “KevinBergerForCongress.com” was created on Tuesday, according to two databases that track domains.

The day before, Republican Senator Berger said he and other Republicans will redraw Congressional maps in the state in an effort to preserve one Republican seat. He and Republican Representative Destin Hall say they want to protect President Donald Trump’s agenda.

In a text message to CBS 17, Kevin Berger wrote: “I am not running for Congress. Sam Page has made so much of a mess of the Sheriff’s Office, I am devoting my time to fixing the mess he made in Rockingham County.”

Page, also a Republican, is running against the elder Berger, who represents Rockingham County, in his Senate primary race.

When could redistricting happen in NC?

Lawmakers were already scheduled to come back to Raleigh the week of October 20. On Monday, Senator Berger and House Speaker Hall said when lawmakers are back, they’ll work on redrawing the maps.

In a statement, Representative Hall wrote in part, “President Trump earned a clear mandate from the voters of North Carolina and the rest of the country, and we intend to defend it by drawing an additional Republican Congressional seat. Our state won’t stand by while Democrats like Gavin Newsom redraw districts to aid in their effort to obtain a majority in the U.S. House.”

Senator Berger wrote in part, “We are doing everything we can to protect President Trump’s agenda, which means safeguarding Republican control of Congress. Picking up where Texas left off, we will hold votes in our October session to redraw North Carolina’s congressional map to ensure Gavin Newsom doesn’t decide the congressional majority.”

Political experts expect lawmakers to target Congressional District One, currently represented by Democrat Don Davis. Those experts say it’s the only truly competitive district in the state.

Several Democrats, including Governor Josh Stein, have said Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers, are abusing their power.

“They failed to pay our teachers salaries of their worth, they have failed to fully fund Medicaid, and now they’re failing the voters by taking the voters’ power away from themselves to give it to the General Assembly so they can choose who their representatives are,” Governor Stein said.

If the maps are passed, the Governor cannot veto them.

Berger on redistricting plans, alleged Trump endorsement

CBS 17 broke the story on a rumored deal between Senator Berger and President Trump. Sources say Berger would accept an endorsement from the President in his primary challenge and agree to redistrict and gain that additional Republican seat.

Senator Berger posted on X that no such deal existed and that he had never spoken to the President about that.

To date, no endorsement from the President has come.