Lawmakers are returning to Raleigh this week to vote on new legislative district maps for next year's North Carolina General Assembly elections. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled current districts were illegally gerrymandered using race as the deciding factor in creating them. BPR's Matt Bush spoke with Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper about the new maps and how they will affect the political power structure of the General Assembly - and in particular, whether they provide a chance for Democrats to reach their stated goal of winning enough seats next year to break the GOP's supermajorities in each chamber that allow Republicans to override vetoes from Democratic governor Roy Cooper.
Are New Maps Enough For NC Democrats To Break GOP Supermajorities?
