Gregory Murphy

Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., defended Republican-led redistricting efforts Monday, arguing that the GOP is responding to tactics Democrats have used for years in states such as Illinois and California.

He praised a Virginia Supreme Court decision striking down a congressional map he called unconstitutional.

Appearing on Newsmax's "National Report," Murphy compared the political battle over congressional maps to a basketball game in which the "second foul" gets called rather than the first.

"I will tell you, you know, this is very similar to basketball," Murphy said. "It's not the first foul you see. It's always the second one you get called."

Murphy said Democrats initiated aggressive redistricting practices in several heavily Democratic states, and Republicans are trying to counter those moves.

"Democrats started this first," he said. "Look at Illinois. Look at the Northeast. Look at California. And Republicans are just trying to catch up."

The North Carolina congressman also weighed in on the Virginia Supreme Court ruling, saying the decision was legally justified and would ultimately hurt Democrats politically.

"I think it blows up in the face of the Democrats," Murphy said.

He criticized Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., for comments about the U.S. Supreme Court and defended the judiciary's role in enforcing constitutional standards.

"Ted Lieu was just on here talking about how bad the Supreme Court was," Murphy said. "The Supreme Court went by the law.

"Isn't that an amazing concept that our courts actually enforce the law?"

Murphy argued the Virginia map should never have been considered because it violated constitutional standards.

"Because what Virginia did was unconstitutional regardless, they should have never even put the vote out," he said.

He said states must operate within the legal authority granted to their legislatures when drawing congressional districts.

"This is what the legal constructs of each legislature or each state is able to do," Murphy said.

Redistricting battles have intensified nationwide ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with both parties using control of state legislatures and governorships to redraw congressional districts in ways that could maximize political advantage.

Republicans and Democrats alike have accused one another of gerrymandering, the practice of manipulating district boundaries to favor a political party or incumbents.

The issue has sparked repeated legal fights in state and federal courts over the past decade.

Murphy acknowledged uncertainty over whether the escalating redistricting battle ultimately benefits the country.

"What does it end? Is this best for America?" he said. "I think historians will have to tell that fact."

Still, Murphy maintained Republicans are now responding to strategies Democrats employed first.

"This is what happens when you mess around, which is what the Democrats did originally," he said.

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