North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature has approved a new congressional map that is widely expected to lock in at least one additional GOP seat in the U.S. House. The move fits neatly into former President Donald Trump’s broader push for mid-decade redistricting — a strategy aimed at shoring up the party’s narrow House majority before the 2026 midterms.

Because Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has no authority to veto redistricting plans under state law, the only remaining obstacle is litigation. Voting-rights groups have already signaled that court challenges are likely.