North Carolina politics has rarely been a stranger to controversy, but the latest round of redistricting discussions has the state’s political world buzzing with accusations, denials, and a sense of déjà vu. On September 25, 2025, North Carolina Senate President Pro-tem Phil Berger acknowledged on social media that Republicans could redraw the state’s congressional district maps this year if necessary. The announcement came amid swirling reports—first surfaced by CBS 17—that Berger was poised to accept an endorsement from former President Donald Trump in his 2026 primary challenge, allegedly in exchange for redrawing the maps to favor Republicans.
The potential deal, according to several sources cited by CBS 17, would involve redrawing Congressional District 1, currently held by Democrat Don Davis, in an effort to oust the incumbent and bolster the Republican majority in the U.S. House. Berger, who has served in the state Senate since 2000 and currently represents District 26—covering Rockingham and Guilford counties—faces a rare and serious challenge from Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in the upcoming primary.
Berger’s social media post was unequivocal about the possibility of new maps but adamant in his denial of any quid pro quo with Trump. “I’ve been watching what’s going on in California with Gavin Newsom trying to steal the Republican majority in Congress. We have drawn four Congressional maps in the last six years in redistricting fights with Democrats because of their sue-until-blue strategy. If we have to draw one more map this year, we will. That said, I’ve never spoken to President Trump about this or an endorsement. The Democrats are spreading lies to hurt President Trump. #ncpol,” Berger wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Berger’s remarks come on the heels of a national trend. In August, Trump asked Texas to redraw its congressional districts to help Republicans win five additional seats in the U.S. House. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded with a pledge to redraw his own state’s maps to create more seats for Democrats, even seeking a special election to bypass California’s independent redistricting commission. With Texas and California in play for 2026, other states—including North Carolina—are now weighing whether to redraw their own maps ahead of the typical decennial cycle.
North Carolina’s political map has been a battleground for years. “We have drawn four Congressional maps in the last six years in redistricting fights with Democrats because of their sue-until-blue strategy,” Berger reiterated, referencing the repeated legal challenges that have forced the state to redraw its districts multiple times. Republicans currently hold 10 of North Carolina’s 14 seats in the U.S. House, with the first congressional district—held by Don Davis—being the only truly competitive seat. The 2024 contest between Davis and Republican Laurie Buckhout was the state’s most expensive congressional race, with both campaigns raising more than $10 million. According to The Cook Political Report, Davis is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the country.
Democrats, unsurprisingly, are incensed by the latest developments. U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (NC-02) issued a blistering statement in response to the news of possible redistricting plans. “If reports are true, North Carolina Republicans have truly stooped to a new low. Accepting a political endorsement in exchange for engaging in partisan gerrymandering is nothing less than blatant, unapologetic corruption. North Carolina Republicans have already rigged our maps in their favor, but they are now planning to go even further simply to appease Donald Trump,” Ross said, as reported by CBS 17. She went further, tying North Carolina’s situation to a broader national trend: “From Texas to Missouri and now North Carolina, Republicans are waging a war on American voting rights because they know the truth – their policies are unpopular, their candidates are unlikable, and they can’t win a majority in Congress without stacking the deck in their favor.”
Ross vowed to fight back: “We will fight these corrupt redistricting plans in every single state. We will fight for our democracy and for American voters who are tired of corrupt leaders silencing their voices.”
North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton echoed Ross’s outrage, calling the reports of further gerrymandering by Berger a “slimy backroom deal.” In a statement released by the party, Clayton accused Berger of “changing the rules, sabotaging the will of the people, and holding critical priorities like Medicaid hostage in a desperate attempt to cling to power.”
But the criticism hasn’t only come from Democrats. Berger’s Republican primary challenger, Sheriff Sam Page, also weighed in, making clear his disapproval of any alleged arrangement with Trump. In a Facebook post, Page wrote: “I’ve been hearing for a little while now that Phil Berger’s team has been puffing out their chests and bragging that they have President Donald J. Trump over a barrel—because if he wants those maps redrawn, he’s going to have to endorse Phil Berger. I say, if President Trump wants those maps redrawn, that SHOULD come with no strings attached—but I guess Phil Berger doesn’t think so. Let me be clear—our Commander in Chief doesn’t owe Phil Berger a damn thing! #ncpol”
Despite the heated rhetoric, Berger has consistently denied any deal or even discussions with Trump regarding redistricting or endorsements. He also refuted rumors about redrawing the first congressional district specifically to favor Republicans as “blatantly false.”
The stakes could not be higher. It is not unusual for the president’s party to lose seats in a mid-term election, and redrawing the maps would be one way to limit losses for Trump and perhaps keep control of Congress. The maneuvering in North Carolina is part of a wider chess game playing out across the country, with both parties seeking every possible advantage as the 2026 elections approach.
Meanwhile, Berger remains in the political spotlight for other reasons as well. Just a day before his social media post, he campaigned in Concord alongside Vice President JD Vance, fresh off the passage of Iryna’s Law—a sweeping crime bill that creates a new path to resume the death penalty in North Carolina.
With the political climate as charged as ever, North Carolina’s redistricting saga is far from over. Both sides are gearing up for what promises to be a fierce legal and political battle, with the outcome likely to shape not just the state’s representation in Washington but also the broader balance of power in Congress. For now, the only certainty is that the eyes of the nation will be watching as North Carolina decides its next move.
