North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature approved a revised congressional district map designed to add at least one more GOP seat in the U.S. House, aligning with President Donald Trump’s push for mid-decade redistricting to help Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the chamber ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The new boundaries build on the state’s existing map, drawn by Republicans in 2023 following the 2020 census, which delivered 10 of North Carolina’s 14 House seats to the GOP in the 2024 elections—even as the swing state remains evenly split between Republican and Democratic voters.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein lacks veto power over redistricting under state law, leaving the plan poised for implementation unless challenged in court.
This move marks the third instance this year of a Republican-controlled state legislature responding to Trump’s call for aggressive redistricting strategies, following similar actions in Texas and Missouri.
In Texas, where the push began in earnest, Republicans unveiled a proposed map on July 30, 2025, aiming to flip up to five Democratic-held seats through mid-decade adjustments.
The effort stems from a pair of long-running legal battles, including a 2024 ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that overturned prior district configurations in areas like Baytown and Galveston, creating an opening for the redraw.
Texas Republicans have cited population shifts and compliance with voting rights laws as justifications, though critics argue it’s a partisan power grab encouraged by Trump. By September 2025, state officials had begun walking back some initial rationales amid scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, but the plan remains on track for adoption.
Other GOP-led states, including Ohio, Kansas, and Indiana, are weighing or advancing comparable mid-cycle changes, capitalizing on their legislative majorities to redraw lines outside the traditional decennial census timeline. Such tactics have historical roots.
Texas itself pursued a similar mid-decade redistricting in 2003 under then-Gov. Rick Perry, who helped solidify Republican dominance in the state’s delegation.
Democrats have decried these efforts as unfair gerrymandering, but Republicans counter that many blue states have long employed similar strategies to entrench their own advantages.
For instance, Illinois Democrats have drawn maps that pack Republican voters into a handful of districts, allowing the party to hold a supermajority in the state’s congressional delegation despite competitive statewide races.
In Maryland, convoluted district shapes have helped Democrats secure seven of eight House seats in a state where Republicans routinely win about 40% of the vote.
New York Democrats attempted an aggressive gerrymander in 2022, only to have it struck down by courts, but the episode highlighted ongoing partisan map-drawing in left-wing strongholds.
Overall, both parties have a history of manipulating districts for gain, with gerrymandering often canceling out nationally but distorting representation at the state level.
In response to the Republican surge, California Democrats have placed Proposition 50 on the November 2025 ballot, a measure that would authorize temporary congressional map changes through 2030 to counter moves in Texas and other red states.
The proposition, backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Democratic Party, directs the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to adopt legislatively influenced boundaries, potentially putting five Republican-held seats at risk in districts currently represented by figures like Reps. Kevin McCarthy and Mike Garcia.
With Republicans controlling more state legislatures than Democrats, the GOP appears positioned to net additional House seats through these maneuvers.
Democrats, who fell short in 2024, need to net just three seats to reclaim the House majority in 2026, making every district adjustment critical.
The Senate remains a tougher climb for Democrats, who must defend incumbents in red-leaning states while targeting GOP vulnerabilities.
U.S. Rep. Don Davis, a North Carolina Democrat, blasted the plan as “beyond the pale” in a statement, accusing Republicans of undermining fair elections as his 1st District faces elimination under the new map.
Trump, however, hailed the North Carolina map on social media, calling it a win for “putting America First.” State House Speaker Destin Hall echoed the sentiment by reposting Trump’s message, adding, “We’re putting America First in NC!”
As legal challenges mount and the redistricting arms race intensifies, the 2026 midterms could hinge on these behind-the-scenes battles over district lines, testing the resilience of America’s electoral system.
Search Results for: Hunter Biden makes an urgent plea to a federal judge, pointing to financial struggles. hu 
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has filed a motion in federal court seeking dismissal of a high-profile lawsuit against former Trump aide Garrett Ziegler, arguing that his worsening financial condition has made it impossible to sustain the costly litigation. The request, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, underscores the mounting personal, financial, and legal difficulties facing Biden as he navigates multiple fronts of public scrutiny.
In his filing, Biden’s legal team urged Judge Hernan D. Vera to terminate the 2023 case, citing a dramatic decline in Biden’s income alongside mounting debts that now total several million dollars. The attorneys stated plainly that “continuing this litigation is no longer feasible,” pointing to the overwhelming burden of legal fees and living expenses.
The filing also referenced unexpected personal setbacks, including a series of wildfires in the Pacific Palisades that left Biden’s rental residence uninhabitable for months. According to his lawyers, the displacement compounded financial instability, forcing Biden to redirect resources toward temporary housing and recovery efforts instead of legal proceedings.
The lawsuit in question was originally brought by Biden against Ziegler, a former Trump White House aide who has been accused of disseminating personal data from Biden’s infamous laptop. The case has been closely watched due to its political implications, as Ziegler and other Trump allies have consistently leveraged the laptop controversy to criticize both Hunter Biden and his father.
Legal analysts suggest that Biden’s move to dismiss the lawsuit could carry political consequences, given the highly charged nature of the dispute. “Dropping the case may ease his financial strain in the short term,” one expert explained, “but it could also embolden critics who argue that Biden is avoiding accountability or unable to withstand scrutiny.”
At the same time, Biden remains entangled in other legal challenges, including federal tax investigations and firearms-related charges, further intensifying the financial and emotional toll. His attorneys emphasized that the decision to seek dismissal was not about the merits of the case but about survival under extraordinary pressure.
The court has not yet ruled on Biden’s request. If Judge Vera grants the dismissal, it would bring an abrupt end to one of the more politically sensitive lawsuits tied to Hunter Biden’s legal battles. If denied, however, Biden could be forced to either continue the litigation despite financial strain or pursue alternative settlement options.
As the president’s son continues to navigate this storm of legal and personal crises, the filing highlights not only the fragility of his financial position but also the ongoing political drama surrounding his every move. With the 2024 election cycle underway, Hunter Biden’s troubles remain a source of both public fascination and partisan conflict — making every legal development a matter of national attention.