Former GOP Rep. Mark Walker announces bid for Congress after North Carolina proposes new map

Former North Carolina Republican Rep. Mark Walker announced he will be running for his old House seat in 2024 after the state legislature advanced new congressional maps that favor the GOP.

The new congressional map has 10 districts that would favor Republicans, compared to the current 7-7 split between Democratic and Republican seats. In a lengthy statement on Wednesday, Walker said that he would be forgoing his previously announced gubernatorial bid and run for Congress next year.

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“I’m announcing my plans to return to the U.S. House, placing the 6th district back to where it has historically been represented by a conservative Republican. Having previously represented 13 NC counties, I look forward to representing many friends as well as family members in the new 6th including all of Rowan, Davidson and Davie Counties and parts of Cabarrus, Forsyth, as well as our home county of Guilford,” Walker said.

Walker specifically mentioned the new congressional maps as being the reason why he is running again. He declined to run in 2020 after his district was redrawn to favor Democrats.

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

“With the new congressional district maps being made public last week, Kelly and I have been overwhelmed with the number of grassroots citizens and officials reaching out for us to consider taking the fight back to Congress,” Walker said. “Before I was redistricted out of North Carolina’s 6th district by a leftist lawsuit and a handful of Raleigh elites, I was honored to serve the people of High Point and central North Carolina in the U.S. Congress.”

The North Carolina Republican also said he would be ending his gubernatorial campaign because there was not a “clear path” and there are “some solid Republican candidates” already running.

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“Transparently, it would be disingenuous of me to act as if there were a clear path in the gubernatorial race. That door has not opened. We have some solid Republican candidates running for Governor, and all would be superior to Democrat Josh Stein. After spending a few days in DC this month, I’m reminded of the grind of Congressional service that can be mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausting,” Walker said.

Walker is running in North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC). The previous district had a “Democrat +4” partisan voting index, according to the Cook Political Report, but the new proposed district has been rated as “likely Republican” by the outlet.