RALEIGH, N.C. — President-Elect Donald Trump has finalized his picks for the top positions in his cabinet.
However, the impending resignations of some of his picks from the House of Representatives could slim the GOP's already tight majority down, leaving little room for disagreement within the party.
WCNC Charlotte spoke with current U.S. Representative Wiley Nickel about how North Carolina's recent redistricting played a role in the GOP's slight control.
"This is a big deal for the future direction of our country," Rep. Nickel, a Democrat, said. "The three seats that North Carolina lost through extreme partisan gerrymandering will very likely determine control of the next Congress."
Wiley decided not to run for re-election after the state's Republican supermajority redrew his district to favor GOP candidates. Rep. Kathy Manning and Rep. Jeff Jackson, the state's new incoming Attorney General, made the same decision.
"North Carolina is one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. We have spent more on litigation than anyone else in the country," Rep. Nickel said. "One of the poster [children] for extreme partisan gerrymandering."
Wiley says this long history of gerrymandering now has national consequences.
"We are on track to be the least productive Congress in our nation's history because of extreme partisan gerrymandering," he said.
That's why he introduced the Fair Maps Act back in April. This would require states to have a non-partisan, independent redistricting commission decide on congressional maps, rather than the legislature.
While the bill still hasn't moved past introduction, it's gaining support from other Democrats. Rep. Wiley led a Special Order Hour about the harms of gerrymandering, joined by U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Rep. Manning.
"A real competition for the best ideas," Rep. Wiley said. "That's all that I want, and that's all that the majority of folks in North Carolina want, is a fair chance to elect a candidate who's got the best ideas."
While his term is ending soon, Wiley said he's looking at the possibility of a Senate run in two years.
Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.