South Carolina’s McMaster to call special session to redraw House map

Trump publicly pressured South Carolina Republicans to move forward with redistricting, urging lawmakers to “be bold and courageous” and to delay congressional primaries until August to allow for a new map. 

A Senate vote Tuesday to allow lawmakers to return after the regular legislative session ended failed to secure the two-thirds majority required, with five Republican senators joining Democrats to block the measure. 

Among the Republicans opposing the effort was state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who warned that aggressively redrawing districts could backfire politically and make currently safe Republican seats more competitive.

The proposed redraw would attempt to dismantle or significantly alter the majority-black 6th District, redistributing Democratic voters into neighboring Republican districts and potentially creating a 7-0 GOP delegation. 

Critics, including some Republicans, argued the move risked energizing Democratic turnout and could weaken Republican incumbents in suburban districts. 

“I don’t know why people think I could not get reelected if they redistrict South Carolina,” Clyburn told CNN. “I have a district that’s about 45% African-American. I have no idea what the number will be after the legislature finishes, but whatever that number is, I will be running on my record and America’s promise.”

The renewed push follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened portions of the Voting Rights Act, prompting Republican-led states across the South, including Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana, to revisit their congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections. 

Fox Carolina first reported Wednesday that McMaster would call lawmakers back Friday morning for a special session. 

The Washington Examiner reached out to McMaster’s office for comment.