Democrats emerged from the November election with clear majorities in both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.

But statewide totals show Republican legislative candidates outpolled the Democrats by more than 100,000 votes. GOP contenders won a large majority of the votes in N.C. House races and a slight majority in contests for the N.C. Senate.

The Democrats won control of the state legislature while being outvoted because of the way in which the districts were drawn (Gerrymandered).

Following the 2002 elections and a switch in party affiliation by one Republican, the N.C. House of Representatives was split 60/60 between Democrats and Republicans. Five GOP members joined all 60 Democrats to elect Jim Black and Richard Morgan co-speakers. The speakers appointed the committee that drafted the legislative districts.

Black and Morgan used their control over the redistricting process to draw districts that favored the Democrats and the Republicans who backed Morgan. Most Republicans, such as Iredell Rep. Frank Mitchell, were placed in districts that were politically unfavorable.

Many of the districts have odd-shaped boundaries and divide counties, towns, and even voting precincts. Iredell County is split among four N.C. House districts and three N.C. Senate districts.

Had Richard Morgan and his allies not defected, the even split in the state House would likely have resulted in an arrangement in which the political parties shared equal power. It is probable that, of necessity, the N.C. House would have passed a reasonably fair redistricting map that did not favor either party.

Based on the election results, a bi-partisan redistricting plan would have almost certainly resulted in a Republican majority in the state House, and possibly in the Senate. Fewer counties, communities, and precincts would have been split. The people would have been better represented regardless of the partisan makeup of the General Assembly.

The Democrat control of the legislature makes it more likely taxes and spending will increase, and less likely any significant tax relief will be passed.

The actions of Co-Speaker Morgan and his handful of Republican allies has resulted in far-reaching, negative consequences for the state.