Regardless of its location on North Carolina’s congressional map, Rep. Alma Adams plans to run for re-election to the 12th Congressional District.

Adams’ district, which currently snakes its way from Greensboro and Winston-Salem, through Rowan County and to Charlotte, was previously declared racially gerrymandered by a federal court. State legislators this week drafted and approved a new congressional map that moves the 12th District entirely to Mecklenburg County. Adams, a Greensboro Democrat, wouldn’t live in the new 12th District. Laws, however, allow North Carolina residents to run for election to any congressional district, regardless of location.

In an emailed statement, Adams said she plans to run for the newly proposed 12th District.

“I am absolutely running to continue to be your Congresswoman in the 12th District,” Adams said in the prepared statement. “While there’s still a lot that could change — the proposed maps that the Republicans passed may be illegal — I want you to know that I am committed to serving. I won’t let Republicans obstruct the important work we’ve been doing to protect women’s rights, improve our public education system, and fight for the people of North Carolina.”

Adams has already filed to run for re-election to the current 12th District. The state’s new map still needs to be reviewed by judges. The U.S. Supreme Court could also delay enforcement of a lower courts ruling that declared the 12th and 1st congressional districts racially gerrymandered.

If the current districts hold up, all congressional elections would be March 15. If courts uphold North Carolina’s newly drawn map and the U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t weigh in, all congressional elections will be in June.

Adams touted her experience — just over one term in Congress — as a reason voters should choose her, regardless of the 12th District’s location.

“We’ve done a lot of great work — including returning hundreds of thousands of dollars in Veterans and Social Security disability benefits — so I don’t believe Charlotte should be sent to the back of the line in seniority and influence in Congress,” Adams said. “Whether the election is in 3 and a half weeks or 3 and a half months, I intend to keep working hard for the people of the 12th District in Washington.”

Most voters support nonpartisan redistricting

Most North Carolinians support taking party affiliation out of drawing congressional districts, according to a recent survey by Public Policy Polling.

The survey, released Thursday, found 59 percent of all voters in North Carolina want laws changed so districts are drawn in a nonpartisan manner. A total of 32 percent of respondents said they weren’t sure whether they’d support nonpartisan primaries.

Partisan redistricting is a process that involves legislators drawing the state’s Congressional and legislature maps. Nonpartisan redistricting varies by state, but takes the state legislatures out of the process. Currently, 21 states use some form of a nonpartisan or bipartisan redistricting commission.

A majority of voters who associate with a political party also support nonpartisan redistricting. Public Policy Polling’s Survey found 65 percent of Democrats and 54 percent of Republicans support nonpartisan redistricting. A total of 56 percent of independents support the idea.

Among individual age brackets, older voters — 65 and older — support nonpartisan redistricting by the largest margin, according to the survey. Voters age 18 to 29 were least supportive of nonpartisan redistricting, according to the survey.

Public Policy Polling also broke results down by area code. Respondents in the 919 area code most favored nonpartisan redistricting.

In conducting its survey, Public Policy Polling surveyed 1,291 voters. The voters included 597 likely Republican primary voters and 575 likely Democratic primary voters. Respondents in the 252 area code were least supportive.

Even with the margin of error, a majority of voters would still support nonpartisan redistricting.

Hudson visits Gray Stone Day School

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-8, on Wednesday visited Gray Stone Day School in Misenheimer. Hudson said the school serve the unique needs of students and gives families more choice in education.

“It illustrates the great things that can be done when we restore local control and create an education system where every child can succeed,” he said.

At the school, Hudson spoke with students, teachers and administrators about ideas to expand opportunity, promote innovation and provide quality education to students in the community.

Gray Stone Day School was founded in 2002 and is adjacent to Pfeiffer University.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.