CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A change of address for Congresswoman Alma Adams put her 90 miles outside of her district after redistricting.
Adams stood before her supporters at the First Ward Park in uptown to stress her commitment to Charlotte.
"I am announcing today that not only am I running for re-election in the 12th congressional district, I've started the process to moving to the Queen City," she said.
Adams' supporters applauded the move by the congresswoman who has represented the 12th district since 2014. A long-time Greensboro resident, Adam's district once stretched up I-85 from Charlotte to Greensboro. However, the boundaries of her district, redrawn in 2010, were found unconstitutional and a three-panel court asked the NC General Assembly to try again. The new boundaries of the 12th district is solely the northern and central portion of Mecklenburg county.
This change, puts Adams more than an hour outside of her own district and opened her up to challengers in the upcoming election with more name recognition in Charlotte. Former State Senator Malcolm Graham has thrown his name in the race.
"Did she give you an address today, well it is a political opportunity," he said regarding Adams' upcoming move.
UNCC Political Science Professor Eric Heberlig says, "the move allows Adams to claim she lives in the district." He says this could minimize the attacks from her opponents in Mecklenburg County. However, he added they could also say, "she just moved here, to run here."
Adams says her commitment to Charlotte is without question.
"We have worked to make sure Charlotte is represented and represented well," she declared. "Some candidates will ask you to have faith in them just because of where they live, but we've shown our commitment to Charlotte through our works."
Graham says most of her works was the result of the efforts of people on the front lines in the Queen City.
"We appreciate her picking up the check in Washington D.C. for us, but the work was done here at home by people who have lived and worked in Mecklenburg County," he said. "A house is not a home, a home is where you put in roots and where you put in time. I've been here almost 30 years and she's been here what, a day?"
This isn't the first time Adams and Graham faced off. He ran against her in the Democratic Primary in 2014. Graham garnered 44-percent of the vote in Meckleburg County, while Adams came in third place with 16-percent of the vote. However, her strong hold in Greensboro gave her the boost she needed to win the nomination. Graham says without her Greensboro base, a candidate with Mecklenburg County ties stands a better shot.
Professor Hebelig says the move will certainly give her an edge, however he found it interesting that she chose to seek reelection in the 12th District instead of the newly redrawn 13th District in the Greensboro area. He says that district is Republican leaning, but Adams has more name recognition in Greensboro than Charlotte and a run there would seem like a natural fit. "Changing her geographic location, means she has a better chance of winning Democratic primary in Charlotte, then a general election in home turf," he said.
The Democratic Congressional Primary will be June 7.