(Reuters) – North Carolina’s latest congressional map was upheld by a panel of judges on Tuesday. They rejected claims that Democratic voters or advocacy groups were claiming the redrawn districts unfairly favour Republicans.

This decision will most likely be appealed. It could also have a significant impact on 2022 midterm elections, in which control over the divided U.S. Congress is at stake.

Democratic and civil rights organizations supported the lawsuit. They claimed that the new map will ensure that Republicans win the majority of 14 state congressional districts. This is even though more Democratic voters did not vote in the elections.

Experts for plaintiffs testified last week that the map was an extreme exception to thousands of other computer-generated maps.

Republican lawmakers who approved the map last November claimed that it was the outcome of a legal procedure and suggested that courts could not reasonably decide whether partisan interest went too far.

In the next few weeks, the case will reach North Carolina Supreme Court. In order to give time to the lawsuit, the top court of the state has delayed the March primary from May to May.

After the U.S. Census has completed its 10-year count, federal law mandates that states draw new congressional lines each 10 years in order to reflect population changes. The process is controlled by the legislature in most states. This leads to gerrymandering where one party manipulates political maps for its own benefit.

The map will give Republicans 10 to 11 seats across the state, even though North Carolina is a battleground for national elections. Eight of 13 state districts are currently controlled by Republicans. North Carolina has a rapidly growing population and is now gaining another district.

According to New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice which tracks redistricting litigation, the case is just one of several pending cases challenging congressional maps.

To regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November 8, Republicans will need to win only a few seats. Democrats have a 221-212 advantage, which includes vacancies.