A federal trial over North Carolina’s Congressional and state senate maps concluded on July 9. The three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court convened June 16 over claims that the N.C. Republican legislators violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution when they enacted new electoral maps in October 2023. The plaintiffs, including the NAACP, claim 2023 electoral maps were drawn to decrease minority voting power and increase Republican power.

Attorneys have until August 5 to make their post-trial filings and it is unclear when the judges will rule. If the panel rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the electoral maps would be redrawn for the 2026 elections making it harder for the N.C. GOP to retain its advantage.

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