Editorial: Election districts must reflect North Carolina, not political leadership
Monday, Dec, 5, 2022 -- North Carolinians deserve elected representatives who reflect them, their priorities and communities - not those who parrot and owe allegiance to Phil Berger and Tim Moore.
Posted — UpdatedIn January, when North Carolina’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives take their seats, the delegation will reflect the people of state it represents more than probably anytime in history.
That’s the way it should be. We have the courts of North Carolina and the United States to thank for imposing reason and representation when our legislative leaders disregarded it.
“Electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats,” he said. “So I drew this map to help foster what I think is better for the country.” Courts later struck down the maps and in 2020 Lewis was forced to resign after pleading guilty to federal charges of diverting campaign contributions to his personal business interests.
But the point of regularly drawing election representative district lines isn’t about politicians. It is about the people and making sure the politicians who might get elected be reflective the voters and places they represent.
That is, as much as anytime in North Carolina, what the new congressional delegation will look like. Half of the 14 representatives are Republicans and half are Democrats. Looking at the total votes cast in congressional elections, Republicans got slightly more than 50% of the votes and Democrats got slightly less than 49%. About an even split.
There will be three Black representatives – 21% of the delegation and Blacks make up about 22% of the state’s population. More women (5) than ever will represent North Carolina in the U.S. House. Still there is a significant gender imbalance relative to the state population. While 36% of the delegation is female, women account for 51% of the state’s population.
Developing election districts – whether congressional, legislative or local – that reflect the population is the first and primary consideration. The people elected should be reflective of the people and places they represent.
North Carolinians deserve elected representatives who reflect them, their priorities and communities – not those who parrot and owe allegiance to Phil Berger and Tim Moore.
Related Topics
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.