GOP map redraws fail to lock in easy House wins in North Carolina
Why it matters: Republicans are pouring millions into districts redrawn for them, blunting a strategy meant to cushion midterm losses.
Republicans' push to redraw House maps for the 2026 midterms has not produced the easy wins party leaders expected, with some newly favorable districts turning into expensive battlegrounds. In North Carolina's 1st District, the legislature redrew the seat late last year so Donald Trump would have carried it by more than 11 points in 2024, yet the race is now widely seen as a toss-up. Trump recently campaigned there for Republican nominee Laurie Buckhout and in NC-11 for Jennifer Balkcom after Mike Johnson asked him to boost both candidates. More than $42 million was spent on advertising in NC-01 between Sept. 1 and Election Day, based on NPR's analysis of AdImpact data.