South Carolina House Approves Map Targeting Clyburn, Seeking 7-0 GOP Delegation
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 20
South Carolina House Approves Map Targeting Clyburn, Seeking 7-0 GOP Delegation
14 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 20
A 74-36 vote sent a new South Carolina congressional map to the state Senate, aiming to turn Jim Clyburn’s Democratic-held 6th District Republican ahead of November.
The bill would also move U.S. House primaries to Aug. 18 from June 9 so candidates can refile and campaign in the redrawn districts.
Republicans, who already hold 6 of the state’s 7 House seats, pushed the plan in a special session called by Governor Henry McMaster after pressure from President Donald Trump.
Democrats said the map would dilute Black voting power in the state’s lone majority-Black district, while Republicans denied racial motives and said voters should expect a full 7-0 GOP delegation.
The fight is part of a broader Southern redistricting push after an April Supreme Court ruling weakened protections for Black and Latino opportunity districts, with all 435 House seats up in November.
With ballots already cast, what happens when lawmakers try to redraw the election map at the last minute?
How does a landmark court case redefine what makes a voting map fair for all citizens?
What is the hidden cost to a community’s identity when its political boundaries are suddenly erased?
South Carolina’s Urgent Redistricting: Targeting the 6th District, Black Representation, and GOP Infighting Amid National Voting Rights Rollback
Overview
Following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act, states across the country began re-evaluating their electoral maps. In response, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called a special legislative session starting May 15, 2026, with the main goal of redrawing the state’s congressional map—especially the 6th District, which is majority-Black and Democratic-leaning. This move is part of a broader national trend, as Republican-led states like Texas and Tennessee have also changed their maps to gain political advantage, raising concerns about the potential dilution of minority voting power and the fairness of future elections.