Rep. Kathy Manning won’t run for reelection after North Carolina redistricting

Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC) announced on Thursday that she would not be seeking reelection in the House due to the newly drawn congressional maps that would likely deliver her seat to Republicans in 2024.

The North Carolina Democrat is one of dozens of lawmakers to announce they won’t run for reelection or would seek another office next year. Manning blamed her resignation on the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly for creating “egregiously gerrymandered congressional districts.”

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The congressional maps altered all 14 of the state’s districts, which are expected to give Republicans a 10- or 11-seat advantage, up from the current 7-7 split. Manning’s Greensboro was one of three Democratic districts flipped as a result of the new maps.

“The Republican-led General Assembly passed flagrantly gerrymandered Congressional districts to reduce the North Carolina Congressional delegation from seven Democrats and seven Republicans to four Democrats and ten Republicans,” Manning said in a statement.

She continued, “Rather than draw Congressional districts that are compact, include communities of interest, and promote the democratic value of allowing voters to decide who they want to represent them — the previously stated goals of the redistricting committee — Republican leaders have put their partisan self-interest above the people they’re elected to serve. It’s the shameful act of leaders who know they can’t win under fair districts.”

Manning pointed to a lawsuit filed in federal court this week challenging the new map for disenfranchising minority voters and seeking to reinstate “fair districts.”

If the lawsuit is successful, Manning said she would reverse her decision and run for her seat again.

“I would love nothing more than to continue representing our community in Congress. Unfortunately, the egregiously gerrymandered maps do not make this race competitive, and I cannot in good conscience ask people to invest their time, resources and efforts in a campaign that is rigged against us,” Manning said. “However, if the impending lawsuits are successful and the General Assembly is forced to draw fair congressional districts, I will seek to continue my service to our community.”

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If the lawsuit fails, the Republican-drawn maps will be in place for the 2024 elections through 2030. North Carolina gained an additional congressional district after the 2020 census, mostly due to minority population growth.

In addition to the 24 Democrats who are retiring, seeking another office, or resigned, 13 Republicans, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), are also retiring, resigned, or seeking another office. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was expelled from Congress last week after 311 House members, including 105 Republicans, voted for the resolution booting Santos.