Politics
Republicans spend millions as redrawn districts become competitive
Pressure on GOP-led states to redraw maps has produced costly, competitive races, including in North Carolina and Florida.
The short version
- Trump's political team pressed GOP-led states to redraw districts, and Inside Elections' Nathan Gonzales says the effort has not built the intended firewall.[NPR]
- North Carolina's 1st District, redrawn to favor Republicans, is now widely considered a toss-up, with over $42 million in ad spending.[NPR]
- In Florida's 22nd District, the Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up, while a House Majority PAC poll shows Democrat Pia Dandiya leading by two points.[The Washington Sun]
- Republicans have not released polling, but Casey Askar's recorded remarks say an internal poll had him trailing by roughly five and a quarter points.[The Washington Sun]
Key facts
- Trump's political team pressed GOP-led states beginning last year to redraw congressional maps in the party's favor.[NPR]
- Under the new lines, North Carolina's 1st District would have gone to Trump by more than 11 points in 2024.[NPR]
- North Carolina's 1st District is now widely considered a toss-up, with more than $42 million in ad spending from Sept. 1 to Election Day, according to an NPR analysis of AdImpact data.[NPR]
- Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections said the redraws have not built the firewall they were meant to create for Republicans.[NPR]
- The Cook Political Report moved Florida's redrawn 22nd District race from lean Republican to toss-up in September.[The Washington Sun]
- In an October audio recording, Republican Casey Askar said an internal poll with the NRCC had him down about five and a quarter points to Democrat Pia Dandiya.[The Washington Sun]
- House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, found Dandiya leading Askar by two points in a September poll.[The Washington Sun]
- According to campaign records, Askar has spent over $2 million on TV advertising and Dandiya has spent $2.2 million.[The Washington Sun]
What remains uncertain
- The Florida 22nd District polling claims are unverified, because Republicans have not released any polling in the race.[The Washington Sun]
- The 'would have won' figure for North Carolina's 1st District is a hypothetical based on 2024 results under the new lines, and the outcome of the November race remains unknown.[NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.