Redistricting has redistributed Senate District 4 into three districts — 3, 4 and 11.

The reconfigured District 4 now consists of Edgecombe, Halifax and Wilson counties.

Bryant said in a statement the new District 4 will be an open seat and a new person will be elected from the district.

Halifax County is 28.4 percent of the district, Edgecombe is 29.4 percent and Wilson is 42.2 percent.  

The district is 49 percent black and voted up to 60 percent Democratic in recent elections. Edgecombe County loses Senator Erica Smith whose Senate District 3 is now composed of six counties — Vance, Warren, Northampton, Bertie, Martin and Beaufort counties.

Monday was the first time in six election cycles Bryant did not file.  

“I am so thankful to the citizens for the opportunity to serve Senate District 4 over six years,” she said in the statement.

During that time the district was made up of  Nash, Halifax, Wilson, Vance and Warren counties.

She said she was thankful for those who supported her as a representative in House District 7 for an additional six years.  

Said Bryant: “It is a blessing in life to get a chance to do something that I really love doing and, for me, that is serving my community. I am proud of my legislative record which includes the enactment into law of 53 primary-sponsored bills (such as) the sale of Electricities assets to Duke Power thereby reducing rates, more favorable expunction laws and processes, creating local offender re-entry councils, requiring a public meeting notice before any change in municipal utility electric rates, reauthorization of Dropout Prevention Grants, updating the use of and increasing 911 funds, increasing funds and standardizing the process for public access cable channels, requiring annexation of certain excluded low-income communities, due process rights for parents of students with long term suspension, the 2010 re-enactment of the renewable energy tax credit and more.”

Bryant explained the redistricting comes mainly from the whole county provision in the state Constitution.”When properly applied without racial gerrymandering, counties have to be kept whole when possible in creating districts. In addition, the ‘one person, one vote’ provision of the US Constitution requires all house districts to have roughly the same population and the same for all senate districts. All of Nash County and therefore, my residence, was assigned to Senate District 11 encompassing all of Nash and part of Johnston counties.”

Nash, at 95,800 in the 2010 population, best matches with part of Johnston to make Senate District 11 and hit the required senate population target of 193,000 per district.

Nash and part of Johnston each make up about 50 percent of the district based on 2010 Census numbers. “This new Senate District 11 voted 58 percent Republican in recent elections and is 25 percent black. I do not believe that district would be a favorable district for me to run in successfully.”