February 10, 2025

Two voters will make their case that Republicans illegally split Black communities in Eastern North Carolina among several electoral districts — effectively diluting their voting power. Courts have previously ruled that racial gerrymandering violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution because it amounts to a discriminatory voting practice.

Robinson’s bid for North Carolina governor ended in November when he lost to now-Gov. Josh Stein by nearly 15 points; it was the biggest landslide in a governor’s race in the state since 1980. Following his defeat, speculation swirled about a potential run for the U.S. Senate in 2026 or chair of the state Republican Party. His announcement puts an end to those rumors and likely came as a relief to state Republicans.