Court delays 2022 North Carolina primary elections amid legal challenges to GOP's redistricting maps

North Carolina's 2022 primary elections will be delayed from March until May following a state Supreme Court ruling that cited legal challenges to gerrymandered political maps. 

The court in its five-page ruling Wednesday directed North Carolina election officials to hold primaries for all state offices on May 17, according to Reuters.

The justices also ordered a lower-court judge to hold further proceedings on three lawsuits filed by Democrats and civil rights groups over the maps, draw by the GOP-controlled state legislature

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said the order "restores faith in the rule of law and it is necessary for the court to rule on the constitutionality of these unfair districts before the next election."

State GOP House Speaker Tim Moore said he was disappointed in the court's ruling, arguing the court has thrown the entire process into "chaos" but also expressed confidence that the maps "will prevail at trial" and "stand."

The revised maps gave Republicans advantages over Democrats in the majority of districts, the wire service also reports.

The court's ruling also suspended candidate filing dates for the 2022 primary elections, including municipal races.