North Carolina
Political leaders and experts consider reality of North Carolina redistricting reforms
H.R. 7095, sponsored by Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C. 2nd), was supported by the other six House Democrats from North Carolina. All 14 of North Carolina’s representatives won their seats with a congressional map drawn by judges in 2022 after the one drawn by the legislature was thrown out for being an illegal partisan gerrymander.
Three out of the seven representatives, Reps. Jeff Jackson (D-N.C. 14th), Kathy Manning (D-N.C. 6th) and Wiley Nickel (D-N.C. 13th), were all drawn out of their districts and decided not to seek reelection.
A few weeks before redistricting began, the state’s 2023-25 budget was passed — which included a provision exempting legislators from the public records law governing all other government branches. But, experts suggest that requiring legislators to publish relevant documents likely would not have made much of a difference in the final maps.
Andy Jackson, the director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation, said a more effective reform would be limiting the use of data to blunt the surgical precision used to make districts as advantageous as possible.
This is not the first time Democrats in Congress tried to pass redistricting reforms. In recent years, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif. 18th) sponsored H.R. 3572, the Redistricting Reform Act of 2019, which would have required states to establish a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission. It died in the subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Two years later, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced S.2670, Redistricting Reform Act of 2021. This bill was the same as the one from 2019, but it died on the Senate floor.
In 2022, the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, found that state redistricting reforms work across the U.S. if politicians were removed from the map-drawing process.
“Ultimately, what we need is a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission, and the process of redistricting needs to be removed from the direct control of the legislature,” Ann Webb, the policy director of Common Cause North Carolina, said.
Common Cause North Carolina, along with the N.C. NAACP and eight Black voters, filed a lawsuit against the North Carolina state legislature in December, calling all three new maps unconstitutional. While there hasn’t been much success in getting federal redistricting reforms passed, seven states have switched to independent commissioners drawing the maps rather than legislators.
In some states, the legislature proposed the change, but in others, like California and Arizona, voters put the issue on the ballot and passed it themselves.
North Carolina does not have a system for voters to put issues directly on the ballot, so the change would come from the state legislature or the federal government.
N.C. House Minority Leader Rep. Robert Reives (D-Chatham, Randolph) said he believes Democrats would fight for independent redistricting if they were in power and that there’s an appetite for change in the Republican ranks but not leadership.
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“It’s frustrating because it’s going to take somebody in power being responsible,” he said.
@DTHCityState | city@dailytarheel.com
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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