National

Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.) announced Friday that he will not seek re-election in 2020 after North Carolina's recently redrawn congressional maps placed him in a heavily Democratic district. 

Why it matters: Holding's decision to leave Congress is one of the first major impacts of North Carolina's new maps, which still favor Republicans in eight out of the state's 13 congressional seats. He is the 21st House Republican to announce their retirement this cycle.

Go deeper: The members of Congress departing in 2020

N.C. GOP Rep. George Holding to retire in 2020 after district is redrawn

His decision is one of the first major impacts of the state's new congressional maps.

Photo: Al Drago/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Politics

House Republicans

Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.) <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1202976217659576321" data-vars-content-id="e8e1d9d7-b4e4-42c6-8e19-988b8690f478" data-vars-headline="N.C. GOP Rep. George Holding to retire in 2020 after district is redrawn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1202976217659576321" target="_blank">announced</a> Friday that he will not seek re-election in 2020 after North Carolina&#x27;s recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="redrawn congressional maps" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/north-carolina-maps-gerrymandering-congress-77b665d3-dd3d-4d97-9201-e834e99c6f6a.html" data-vars-content-id="e8e1d9d7-b4e4-42c6-8e19-988b8690f478" data-vars-headline="N.C. GOP Rep. George Holding to retire in 2020 after district is redrawn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/north-carolina-maps-gerrymandering-congress-77b665d3-dd3d-4d97-9201-e834e99c6f6a.html" target="_self">redrawn congressional maps</a> placed him in a heavily Democratic district. Why it matters: Holding&#x27;s decision to leave Congress is one of the first major impacts of North Carolina&#x27;s new maps, which still favor Republicans in eight out of the state&#x27;s 13 congressional seats. He is the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="21st House Republican" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/congress-republicans-democrats-retire-2020-8149a7a1-1878-47fc-b44d-b3970c858f47.html" data-vars-content-id="e8e1d9d7-b4e4-42c6-8e19-988b8690f478" data-vars-headline="N.C. GOP Rep. George Holding to retire in 2020 after district is redrawn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/congress-republicans-democrats-retire-2020-8149a7a1-1878-47fc-b44d-b3970c858f47.html" target="_self">21st House Republican</a> to announce their retirement this cycle.Go deeper: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The members of Congress departing in 2020" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/congress-republicans-democrats-retire-2020-8149a7a1-1878-47fc-b44d-b3970c858f47.html" data-vars-content-id="e8e1d9d7-b4e4-42c6-8e19-988b8690f478" data-vars-headline="N.C. GOP Rep. George Holding to retire in 2020 after district is redrawn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/congress-republicans-democrats-retire-2020-8149a7a1-1878-47fc-b44d-b3970c858f47.html" target="_self">The members of Congress departing in 2020</a>

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.