The outlook appears promising for N.C. House and Senate incumbents serving Forsyth and Guilford counties following the passing of the latest Republican-drawn legislative redistricting maps.
But there has been some shifting of precincts, primarily involving Forsyth and Guilford Democrats in the House.
For example, in Forsyth Democrat Kanika Brown’s 71st District expanded from 20 to 24 precincts while becoming more concentrated on the southern parts of Winston-Salem and the county.
The map used for the 2022 general election had Brown with a balance of precincts between the southern and eastern sections of Winston-Salem.
Democrat Amber Baker’s 72nd District shrank from 32 to 29 precincts and is more focused on central Winston-Salem.
Meanwhile, map makers took away a portion of Winston-Salem from Republican Kyle Hall’s District 91 while expanding it to include more of northern Forsyth along with keeping all of Stokes County. Overall, Hall’s precincts in Forsyth dropped from 11 to nine.
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Republican Donny Lambeth’s 75th District remained at 19 precincts, but map makers accomplished that by adding some former precincts from Brown’s district while shifting some northern Forsyth precincts to Hall.
Republican Jeff Zenger’s 74th District gains precincts from Hall in northwest Forsyth, while losing precincts in southern Forsyth to Brown.
In terms of Forsyth’s Senate districts, there was limited shifting of precincts between Republican Joyce Krawiec’s 31st District and Paul Lowe’s 32nd District.
Krawiec’s district continues to encircle most of Winston-Salem and southern Forsyth like an upside down horseshoe covering the suburban communities, along with all of Stokes County.
Lowe gained some precincts in the northern part of Winston-Salem while losing precincts in the southern portion of the count on the northeast border with Davidson County.
Rep. Amos Quick, D-Guilford, questioned during the House debate over the Senate redistricting map why more Black voters were placed into Lowe’s district.
Quick said the map makers didn’t provide any additional advantage to Lowe or to the affected Black voters with the shift.
“The new maps for the state House and Senate are not likely to bring about changes in the partisan composition of the Forsyth and Guilford county delegations," said John Dinan, a political science professor at Wake Forest University who is a national expert on state legislatures.
"The changes are relatively minimal and are not likely to lead to a shift in party control seats in Forsyth and Guilford.”
However, Dinan said that “in some other areas of the state, such as around Charlotte and Raleigh, the new maps make more significant shifts in districts and with potential partisan implications.”
Guilford changes
There likewise was a modest number of precincts shifted between Guilford’s six House districts.
However, in the process of Democrat Cecil Brockman’s 60th District going from 27 to 30 precincts, it became more concentrated on High Point.
Some of Brockman’s precincts between High Point and Greensboro were moved to Quick’s 58th District, while several precincts along the Randolph County border were placed in the 59th District currently represented by Republican Jon Hardister.
The 59th District also gained several southern Greensboro precincts from Quick’s 58th District.
The 59th District currently is the only open House seat in Guilford with Hardister running for the Republican nomination for Labor commissioner.
Republican John Faircloth’s 62nd District saw some High Point precincts drawn into Brockman’s district.
In return, Faircloth gained western Greensboro precincts from Ashton Wheeler Clemmons’ 57th District and northern Guilford precincts from the 59th District.
That left Clemmons’ district more concentrated in central Greensboro.
Democrat Pricey Harrison’s 61st District shifted from being focused on central Greensboro on a horizontal line to one looking like a forward slash in the exchange of precincts with Clemmons and Quick.
On the Senate side, Senate leader Phil Berger’s 26th District has a more pronounced suburban loop around Greensboro and High Point, while losing some west Greensboro and northern Guilford precincts to Democrat Michael Garrett’s 27th District. Berger retains all of home Rockingham County.
Garrett’s district, while still focused on High Point, has been expanded more into western Greensboro and now touches the Rockingham border in a few precincts.
Democrat Gladys Robinson’s 28th District also was chipped away at by the map drawers, losing precincts in east Greensboro and eastern Guilford to Berger while being concentrated on most of Greensboro.
Re-election plans
With the legislative maps in place through the 2030 general election — although several lawsuits challenging the maps’ constitutionality are expected — some legislators already have declared their re-election plans.
“After consultation with many colleagues, supporters, and friends, I have decided to run for re-election to NC House District 61,” Harrison said.
“There is still much work to do to defend our democracy, environment, public education, women’s reproductive rights, social justice causes, and more.
“I am grateful for all of the support and encouragement I’ve received in making this decision and look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of North Carolina.”
Brockman said he will run for re-election even with the shift of precincts since it stays a majority High Point district.
“The maps in general have more predetermined outcomes that currently benefit the Republican majority,’ Brockman said.
“We can not continue to claim to be a democracy when so many of elections are predetermined before anyone even votes.”