The South Carolina Senate voted down an effort to conduct a redistricting of congressional lines ahead of the 2026 Midterms.
After five Republican senators joined with all Democrats, the chamber voted against a Sine Die measure to add redistricting to a Session call. That throws the matter back to the House, but creates a substantial roadblock to adjusting lines and trying to eliminate a Democratic-leaning and majority Black district represented for more than three decades by U.S. Rep. James Clyburn.
The push to redraw lines was resisted most notably by GOP Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey.
He argued South Carolina already had one of the most gerrymandered maps or a republican-controlled state, allowing just one Democrat in the delegation. He doubts recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions raising the threshold to justify majority minority seats will change that.
“Yesterday, they (U.S. Supreme Court justices) allowed Alabama to use this map that they passed before Alabama also has seven congressional districts. that map would allow Alabama to use a 6-1 map,” Massey said. “The U.S. Supreme Court decision yesterday allowed Alabama to do what we have already done.”
He also said that the next time a Democrat serves as President, South Carolina will benefit from having at least one Democrat in its congressional delegation.
Federal leaders including President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican candidate for Governor, had pushed for lines to be revisited after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a similar question of whether Louisiana should have one or two Black majority seats.
Some House Republicans say the battle to redraw lines is not yet over.
“Here’s the next play— If the senate blocks Redistricting Resolution it goes back to the SC House,” posted Rep. Adam Morgan, chair of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus. “The House can simply nonconcur to Senate changes and refuse to pass a Sine Die Resolution (the resolution that calls them back for a special session). This would allow the Governor to call a Special Session. At that special session, Redistricting can pass by a simply majority instead of a 2/3rds vote.“
It’s uncertain whether Gov. Henry McMaster would take such a step, but Adams expects pressure to mount to do so.
“You may say — but the Governor said he won’t call one! True. But likely his tune will change,” he posted.
