NC congressional Democrats bring back bill seeking transparency in redistricting

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNCN) — Amid a redistricting battle across the country, the four Democrats representing North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives have reintroduced a bill seeking to bring more transparency to the process.

The Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act was reintroduced on Tuesday by Democratic representatives Alma Adams of the 12th district, Don Davis of the 1st district, Valerie Foushee of the 4th district, and Deborah Ross of the 2nd district.

According to Ross’ office, the bill seeks to give the public the opportunity to provide input in redistricting decisions, make disclosures mandatory for the individuals and groups who participate in drawing the map, and establish criteria for mapmaking transparency.

As part of the process for redistricting transparency, according to Ross’s office, the bill would require the criteria used to draw the maps to be published. The bill also requires an analysis of how proposed maps will impact certain diverse populations.

The Democrats reintroduced the bill after the Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly approved a new congressional map in late October. The new map is intended to add a GOP seat to the U.S. House by making Davis’s district in the eastern region favorable to Republicans.

“North Carolina is a purple state through and through, but for more than a decade, Republicans in the General Assembly have sought to maximize their power by silencing North Carolina voters, repeatedly blocking every effort to institute fair maps and equal representation,” Ross said in a statement. “They are scared they cannot win elections in our state, so they want to rig the game instead. That’s why we are introducing this bill — to send a clear signal that North Carolinians deserve maps that are drawn with accountability, fairness, and public input.”

The bill was first introduced in January 2024 after North Carolina’s congressional map was redrawn the previous year. The state’s 14 districts were split evenly between Democrats and Republicans before the redrawing, but the 2023 map led to Republicans winning three U.S. House seats in 2024 and gaining a 10-4 majority.

“I am proud to join Congresswoman Ross and the North Carolina Democratic delegation in introducing the Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act because the people, not politicians, should pick who represents them in office,” Adams said in a statement. “Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have shown they will lock the voices, votes, and values of their constituents out of the redistricting process to further rig our democracy in their favor. North Carolinians deserve transparency, fairness, and accountability in the redistricting process and this bill is an important step to ensuring our elections remain free and fair.”

Davis also introduced a bill last week intended to prevent congressional districts from being redrawn in the middle of a decade.

“While eastern North Carolinians are trying to make ends meet and provide for their families, politicians are focused on redrawing congressional maps for partisan gain,” Davis said in a statement. “We must ensure maximum transparency and public input in redistricting efforts, to ensure state governments are not taking power away from the people, where it belongs.”

State Republicans have said the new map is intended to protect President Donald Trump’s agenda in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

“Now more than ever, hyper-partisan state legislatures across the country are attempting to manipulate voting maps to rig our nation’s elections,” Foushee said in a statement. “This diluting of the voices of voters disenfranchises thousands of Americans and violates the values that this nation was built on. North Carolinians are all too familiar with partisan maps, and our state deserves better. I’m proud to join the North Carolina Democratic delegation in reintroducing this piece of legislation to hold state legislatures accountable while increasing transparency and providing opportunities for the public to be involved in the redistricting process.”

The full bill can be viewed below.