Plaintiffs in a lawsuit over newly drawn maps for legislative and congressional districts want to delay the state's May primary until July.
Jessica Jones: A group of more than 40 Democrats and advocacy groups say the May eighth primary should be delayed until July tenth so judges can decide whether Republicans' new maps are unconstitutional. They filed a motion in Wake County Superior Court on Friday. The group filed its lawsuit in November, asking to have the new maps thrown out. The plaintiffs include present and former state lawmakers. They say the newly drawn boundaries cross too many county lines and pack high numbers of minority voters into some districts to reduce their overall influence. The defendants in the lawsuit include Republican Senator Bob Rucho, Senate Leader Phil Berger, House Speaker Thom Tillis, and the state itself. A hearing on the state's motion to dismiss the lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday.