Newly approved U.S. Congressional map divides Davidson County into two electoral districts

Sharon Myers, The Dispatch
·4 min read
Davidson County will be divided into two U.S. Congressional districts after state legislators approve new electoral maps
Davidson County will be divided into two U.S. Congressional districts after state legislators approve new electoral maps

Newly drawn electoral maps have split Davidson County into two separate districts, making where you live in the county the deciding factor for who you will be able to vote for in 2022 for the the U.S. House of Representatives.

Last week, state legislators passed new maps for the state’s 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. North Carolina gained a congressional seat after the 2020 U.S. census data confirmed the state has gain one million residents over the past 10 years.

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Davidson County was formerly in North Carolina's 13th Congressional District and it also included Davie, Rowan, Randolph, Alamance, Person and Caswell counties and portions of Chatham and Lee counties.

It is currently represented by Rep. Ted Budd, who is candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Richard Burr.

In the redrawing of the 2021 electoral maps, Davidson County will now be divided between the 10th and the 7th U.S. Congressional district. The western and northern portions of Davidson County are in the 10th district, while the eastern and central parts are included in the 7th District.

The newly configured 10th District includes Cabarrus, Davie and Rowan counties and portions of Davidson, Iredell, Davie and Guilford Counties. The 7th U.S. Congressional District includes Alamance, Chatham, Randolph, and Lee counties and portions of Davidson, Wake, Guilford, and Harnett counties.

Related story: What's on your ballot? How Lexington redistricting could change voting wards for some residents

Because of this division in the electoral map, there are two representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives for Davidson County.

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-Concord), who currently represents the 8th District, has announced he will run for the newly developed 10th District. He was the U.S. Congressman for the 13th district between 2012 and 2016, which included Davidson County before congressional maps were adjusted.

While in Lexington on Wednesday, Hudson said he is elated that he has the opportunity to represent parts of Davidson County again.

“I love this community; I love this county. I really enjoyed the time I spent here when it was in my district before, so I was thrilled when it was made official on Friday that Davidson County will be in the 10th district,” said Hudson.

Rep. Richard Hudson (middle) discusses economic development and the redrawing of U.S. congressional districts during a visit to Goose and the Monkey Brewhouse on Wednesday. Also pictured are Lexington Mayor Newell Clark (left) and Brent Moore, owner of Goose and the Monkey.
Rep. Richard Hudson (middle) discusses economic development and the redrawing of U.S. congressional districts during a visit to Goose and the Monkey Brewhouse on Wednesday. Also pictured are Lexington Mayor Newell Clark (left) and Brent Moore, owner of Goose and the Monkey.

Redistricting in North Carolina has been quite contentious in the past. In the past 10 years, courts have repeatedly ordered the drawing of new congressional maps due to gerrymandering.

In 2016, the courts ordered the redrawing of district maps after it was determined the state’s 2011 maps had been racially gerrymandered, a decision that was upheld by the Supreme Court. In 2019 federal courts required new lines for congressional districts to be drawn for the 2020 election for the same reason.

The NAACP already has filed a lawsuit for the recently drawn North Carolina electoral maps stating the new boundaries, again, give an unfair advantage to Republican candidates.

Hudson said although he has no influence over the pending lawsuits, he hopes the electoral maps will remain as they are currently drawn.

“I'm not a lawyer and I'm not a party to the lawsuits, so all I can do is deal with what I've got in front of me. I hope (the maps) will stay because I certainly would love to come back in the district representing Davidson County. All I can do is keep moving forward,” Hudson said.

More: NC congressional map that helps GOP gets Senate panel's OK

With the adjustment of electoral maps, candidates have to make sure they are attuned to the wants and needs of each new district. Hudson said the best way to make sure elected officials are representing all residents in a district is to spend time in those communities.

“My philosophy on being the congressman is if I don't know you and you don't know me or I don't know this community, the opportunities and the challenges here, then how can I go represent this community in Washington? That's why I’m here just a few days after the district change. I want people to know that I'm going to be here and I want to earn their vote,” said Hudson.

Democratic candidate Scott Huffman of Cabarrus County has also announced he will be running as the representative for the newly drawn 10th U.S. Congressional District.

General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: New U.S. Congressional map divides Davidson County into two districts