The redrawn boundaries for North Carolina General Assembly districts are expected to give Republicans the advantage over Democrats to preserve their new majorities in the Legislature through the rest of the decade.
For now, the new district lines and the party that got to draw them are giving headaches to several House and Senate incumbents from both parties leading to the May 8 primary.
The boundaries have given well-funded rivals and former legislators the confidence to challenge current lawmakers considered vulnerable and must persuade voters who don't know them.
Two Democrats -- Bill Brisson of Bladen County and Jim Crawford of Granville County -- also are being targeted by outside groups in part for their votes to override Gov. Beverly Perdue's veto of the Republican budget.
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