(RALEIGH) -- The redrawing of congressional districts in North Carolina could have an impact on an already hyped race in Western North Carolina next year.  There is a chance that Asheville could be taken out of the state's 11th Congressional District.

The questions is, if Asheville is removed from the 11th Congressional District, would that mean a potential primary between Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell and Congressman Heath Shuler could not happen?  Johnnie McLean, Deputy Director of State Board of Elections said there is no requirement that a candidate live in the congressional district in which they are running.

"Should they be drawn out of a particular district they would have the opportunity to still file the notice of candidacy for that district in which they did not live," said McLean. She added that there is no constitutional or statutory requirement that a candidate for a congressional seat live in the district where the seat resides.

While Bothwell has said he will challenge Shuler in the Democratic Primary, the official filing period does not open until February.

(Thanks to: WWNC)