NC Dem Won't Run for Reelection, Claims State 'Rigged' Against Her

Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC) says she will not run for reelection in 2024, claiming that the state is "rigged" against her.

Manning shared the remarks in her announcement on Thursday that marked her plans to leave office after the current term.

Swing district Democrat complains she won't run for re-election because race is 'rigged' against her https://t.co/rjiBmmggI9

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) December 7, 2023

"I would love nothing more than to continue representing our community in Congress. Unfortunately, the egregiously gerrymandered maps do not make this race competitive, and I cannot in good conscience ask people to invest their time, resources, and efforts in a campaign that is rigged against us," Manning said.

"As a Greensboro resident of forty years, I am disgusted by the callous disregard of Republican leaders for the citizens of my district. Politicians should not choose their voters; voters should choose their representatives," she said.

Today I am announcing that I won't file for re-election in the egregiously gerrymandered Congressional districts, drawn by the Republican-led NCGA.

Read my full statement here: https://t.co/7Danhf0cpF

— Congresswoman Kathy Manning (@RepKManning) December 7, 2023

"A lawsuit was filed in federal court earlier this week to overturn the new districts and require the reinstatement of fair districts that do not predetermine the outcome of the elections according to the preferences of the Republican-dominated redistricting committee," a statement from her office read.

"The lawsuit outlines how the current districts disenfranchise minority voters by ‘packing and cracking’ voters into districts to prevent them from electing representatives that represent their values. If the lawsuit is successful, Manning will run to represent the community she has been so honored to serve," it continued.

The approved state congressional map leaves Manning in a situation she would be unlikely to win following her past victory under the previous map.

In other states, Democrats have pushed legal challenges based on race to change maps unfavorable to their party, but no such challenge has been successful in North Carolina.

The move could add another GOP seat in the state, helping the party to keep its slim majority in 2024.

The move also adds to a large voter turnout expected during the presidential year that will include a potential rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.