PHOTO/ALMA ADAMS CAMPAIGN

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (right) announced she's moving to Charlotte from Greensboro during a re-election press conference Thursday in Charlotte. Adams, a Democrat, represents the 12th Congressional District, which is being redrawn after a federal court declared it unconstitutional last month.

Two years after beating Charlotte Democrats to earn a seat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams is moving into their neighborhood.

Adams, a Greensboro resident, surprised supporters Thursday by announcing she’s relocating ahead of filing for the 12th Congressional District race. She succeeded longtime representative Mel Watt in 2014.

“Not only am I running for re-election in the 12th Congressional District, I’ve started the process of moving to the Queen City,” Adams, 69, said to applause at First Road Park. “We’ve done important work in the United States Congress, work that is truly worth doing, and I believe after spending most of 2014 without representation that Charlotte cannot afford to go back to the back of the line in Congress.”

Adams said moving to Charlotte is calculated to put her in touch with the largest bloc of voters in the 12th District. In 2014, Charlotte voters made up 52 percent of the district, but if a federal court approves a redrawn map of North Carolina’s congressional districts, they’d make up all of the 12th. The 12th and 1st districts, which have a plurality of black voters, were declared unconstitutional because they limited the impact of African Americans in other districts. As a result, the Republican-dominated General Assembly was ordered to redraw all districts, which the court is expected to rule on next week. The delay pushed the congressional primary to June.

“The court has not ruled yet, so we don’t exactly know what we think we know,” Adams said. “That might be what is, but we’re not really sure.”

Adams said she may not sell her Greensboro home, nor has she decided where to put down roots in Charlotte.

“I don’t want anybody following me,” Adams said, which drew laughs from the crowd. “I’m looking in several places. I’m an artist as well and there are several arts communities, and I’m looking in the center city.”

Adams is likely to draw several challengers from current and former officeholders. Former Charlotte City Council members Michael Barnes, Harold Cogdell and David Howard have been mentioned as well as former N.C. Sen. Malcolm Graham and current state Senator Joel Ford. Every contender will have to adjust to campaigning on a larger stage.

“I think that’s going to be a challenge for anybody that gets into this race,” Adams said. “I’ve represented a large segment of the district. We’ll have to get to know new people, which is the challenge for anybody running in this race.”

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