The South Carolina House Rules Committee has opened the door for possible redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“In a 12-2 vote, members amended the sine die resolution to add redistricting as a special session option for the legislature to consider,” WSAV reports.
South Carolina’s congressional delegation consists of 6 Republicans and 1 Democrat.
A newly-drawn congressional map could potentially produce a 7-0 GOP advantage.
🚨 JUST IN: South Carolina House committee votes IN FAVOR of redistricting before the 2026 midterms — with a 7R-0D map likely to prevail thanks to the Supreme Court ending racial gerrymandering
This could likely eliminate James Clyburn (D)'s district — which was CHEATED IN, and… pic.twitter.com/4meZ0J8cCK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 6, 2026
WSAV noted:
This would happen after the regular session adjourned and after some absentee ballots had already been turned in.
ADVERTISEMENTThe resolution will take a 2/3 vote in the House and Senate to pass.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said he would not call a special session of the state legislature to redraw the state’s congressional map.
“The U.S. Supreme Court upheld South Carolina’s current congressional map in 2024. In light of the Court’s most recent decision on the Voting Rights Act, it would be appropriate for the General Assembly to ensure that South Carolina’s congressional map still complies with all requirements of federal law and the U.S. Constitution,” McMaster wrote on X.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld South Carolina’s current congressional map in 2024. In light of the Court’s most recent decision on the Voting Rights Act, it would be appropriate for the General Assembly to ensure that South Carolina’s congressional map still complies with all…
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) May 1, 2026
More from the Associated Press:
Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn has represented South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District since it was redrawn in 1992 to favor minority voters. He’s running for an 18th term. But winning reelection could be harder for him if Republicans redraw his district.
A committee on Wednesday easily passed a proposal that could allow South Carolina lawmakers to consider drawing new congressional districts, setting up a showdown on the state House floor later in the day.
The resolution would require a two-thirds vote to pass. Republicans have a supermajority, but some are concerned that an attempt to redraw the map to eliminate the state’s lone Democratic representative could backfire and create up to two districts where Democrats are competitive.
Democratic state Rep. Spencer Wetmore said the redistricting effort reveals cynical politics focused more on winning for a narrow group than on helping all people.
“Daddy Trump calls and needs to grasp at some power, and once again we jump,” she said.
ADVERTISEMENTThe state’s primaries are June 9, and early voting starts in three weeks.
