Federal Panel Allows North Carolina to Use GOP-Drawn House Map in 2026

U.S. Circuit Judge Allison Jones Rushing and District Judges Richard Myers and Thomas Schroeder unanimously denied preliminary injunctions after a mid-November hearing. The ruling permits S.B. 249 to take effect for 2026, a mid‑decade redraw targeting the 1st District held by Democrat Don Davis, unless a higher court intervenes. The court found no direct evidence of racially discriminatory intent and said the record reflected partisan objectives. Relying on Supreme Court precedent including Rucho, the panel said partisan gerrymandering claims are not for federal courts to resolve and rejected a malapportionment challenge to the use of 2020 census data. Candidate filing opens Monday, and if Republicans ultimately flip District 1 the delegation could shift from 10–4 to 11–3; GOP leaders tied the decision to President Trump’s redistricting push while groups like Common Cause condemned the map.