North Carolina Republicans’ redistricting effort could tee up a member-on-member race, and the new map already has tensions running high.
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) has been considering switching from his current seat, the 3rd District, to run in the 1st District.
But the White House rejected the idea and made clear to Murphy he should seek reelection in his district, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the conversations.
“We expect him to run in his current district, which is the district we will back him to run in,” a White House official told us.
Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) is considering running in either the 1st or 3rd District and hasn’t taken any options off the table, according to his team. That means the contest in the new 3rd could turn into a contest between two formidable incumbents.
District changes. North Carolina’s new map, which passed the state Senate on Tuesday and is teed up in the state House today, made major changes to both districts. Republicans’ goal in the redistricting push is to draw Davis out of a seat.
Under the map, most of the coast and Outer Banks shifted from Murphy’s seat to Davis’. That’s a big deal for Murphy, who has prioritized coastal issues in Congress. The new 3rd district is now more of an agricultural district than it was before.
The map also moved Davis’ home and the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, a top priority for the Democrat, into the 3rd District. Still, Davis could stick to his current seat, which is slightly less red and retained other military installations. Candidates don’t have to run in the district where they reside.
Murphy didn’t rule out his own district switch during an interview with a local North Carolina radio station on Tuesday, but White House opposition could make that difficult.
A Murphy spokesperson declined to comment.
“I was really disappointed,” Murphy said on the radio show. “The way the Senate drew the map in Raleigh basically took the 3rd District and split it in half. This has always been a coastal district.”
Murphy mentioned that he’s owned a house on the coast for over three decades and was planning to move there. The four-term GOP lawmaker’s primary home remains in the 3rd District. Murphy added that he’s meeting with White House officials on Wednesday and will then make a decision on where to run.
The GOP’s calculus. Murphy seeking reelection in the 3rd District could make things smoother for Republicans on several fronts.
President Donald Trump would’ve carried the new 1st District by 11 points in 2024, compared to three points under the old map. The 3rd District will go from a Trump +21 seat to a Trump +13. That makes both seats very winnable for Republicans.
But Davis is viewed as a strong Democratic challenger. Having Murphy, the incumbent, run against him gives an extra boost to the GOP.
Republican candidates have already lined up to challenge Davis in the 1st District, so the GOP has a bench ready to go.
