South Carolina Lawmakers Begin Special Session to Discuss Redistricting

The South Carolina General Assembly reconvened on May 15 after Gov. Henry McMaster ordered lawmakers to attend a special session that was focused on redrawing maps for U.S. congressional districts.

McMaster’s executive order required state lawmakers to “continue consideration of South Carolina’s congressional districts” on May 15 after state senators, including a handful of Republicans, already rejected a bid to extend the session to discuss changing the map on May 12.

The new proposal would rearrange multiple districts, including where Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia are located on the congressional map.

If passed, it would make all of South Carolina’s seven U.S. House seats lean Republican in the midterm election and push out a long-serving Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn.

Right now, Republicans hold six of seven U.S. congressional seats in the state.

Clyburn, who has represented South Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District since 1993, opposed Republican efforts to redraw the district he serves.

“This fight is bigger than one district,” Clyburn wrote on social media earlier this month.

“It’s about whether our democracy belongs to the people, or to politicians who change the rules when they don’t like the results. We cannot let them succeed.”

State Rep. Heather Bauer, a Democrat and karate enthusiast, told her Republican colleagues on May 15, “You really should be ashamed of yourselves,” and urged them to get courage and “find a dojo.”

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who is running for governor, defended the redistricting proposal, suggesting that having all Republicans representing South Carolina in Washington was a “critical step” in making life more affordable for Americans.

“We cannot allow Never-Trump obstructionists to stand in the way of fair maps, ending racial gerrymandering, and delivering real conservative victories,” Evette wrote in an X post on May 15.

State representatives will be able to review the proposed new congressional map until May 16.

The State House will meet up once again, starting at 11 a.m. ET on May 18.

Lawmakers expect a vote to be taken next week. If passed, it will head to the state Senate.

If McMaster’s effort is successful, the primary will be delayed from June 9 to Aug. 11.

The redistricting effort in the state has support from President Donald Trump, who encouraged South Carolina senators to push back the primaries so new congressional districts can be created ahead of the midterm elections.

Jackson Richman contributed to this report.