Search Articles
CHARLESTON, S.C. (CN) — The Republican-led South Carolina Senate on Tuesday rejected plans to draw a new congressional map in a blow to President Donald Trump’s redistricting plans for the state.
Trump has pressured lawmakers to redraw the map to eliminate the state’s single majority-Black district, represented by Democratic U.S. Representative James Clyburn. The South Carolina House approved a redrawn map last week in the hopes of enacting it before the midterm elections. As part of the effort, lawmakers also sought to set another primary election for the impacted districts in August.
But early voting for the June 9 primary elections began Tuesday morning. With thousands of votes already cast, Senator Richard Cash, a Republican from Anderson, said lawmakers ran out of time.
“Neither my conscience nor my common sense would allow me to stop an election already underway,” he said.
Plans to take up the issue failed earlier this month after five Republicans voted against extending the state’s legislative session. In an impassioned speech, Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, one of the five dissenting Republicans, castigated the redistricting plan as antidemocratic and shortsighted.
Massey pointed out the current map, which was redrawn in 2021, already heavily favored Republicans. Further changes could motivate Black voter turnout and cause the party to lose an additional seat, he said.
Governor Henry McMaster, a longtime Trump ally, called for a special session to take up the issue after Republicans failed to extend the session, but the pressure of the primary election caused further defections.
Senator Tom Davis, a Republican from Beaufort, said Tuesday it took lawmakers nine months to redraw and approve the 2021 map. Meanwhile, the proposed map has only been before the Senate for 19 days.
“We’ve completely outsourced our Constitutional obligation to prepare a congressional district map to a consultant in Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Davis motioned to continue the bill. The motion succeeded in a 26-18 vote before the Senate adjourned.
The Senate is scheduled to meet again June 10 to approve a budget.
Follow @SteveGarrisonPCSubscribe to our free newsletters
Our weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.
