Full Breakdown
South Carolina Republicans Weigh Redrawing Majority-Black Congressional District After Supreme Court Ruling
5/6/2026, 6:01:54 PM
Redistricting Push in South Carolina
Republican leaders in South Carolina are considering a mid-decade redraw of the state’s seven U.S. House districts, focusing on the 6th district that has been held by Democrat Jim Clyburn since 1993. The effort follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down Louisiana’s majority-Black district as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, prompting calls from President Donald Trump and other GOP officials to reassess maps that contain minority-majority districts.
Background: Court Ruling and Prior Map History
On April 29, 2026 the Court ruled 6-3 in *Louisiana v. Callais* that the state’s second Black-majority district violated the Equal Protection Clause. The ruling upended a decades-old interpretation of the Voting Rights Act and gave Republicans a legal basis to challenge similar districts. In 2024 the Court had upheld South Carolina’s current map as a partisan, not racial, gerrymander, leaving the 6th district—redrawn in 1992 to favor minority voters—intact but no longer majority-Black after the 2020 census.
Key Players and Their Positions
- Gov. Henry McMaster – says the decision “depends on a lot of things” and that “the legislature has to make a lot of decisions”; he stopped short of endorsing a redraw.
- Sen. Shane Massey (R-Edgefield) – warns that aggressive redrawing could reduce the GOP’s 6-1 advantage to 5-2.
- House Speaker Murrell Smith (R-Sumter) – indicated the House will consider amending the sine-die agreement to allow post-session redistricting.
- Attorney General Alan Wilson – fully supports Trump’s call to redraw the map before the primary.
- Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC-6) – warns the Court’s decision will spark “never-ending redistricting fights.”
- Rep. Jordan Pace (R-Berkeley) – introduced H. 4717 to redraw districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Timeline of Legislative Actions
- April 29, 2026 – Supreme Court decision on Louisiana.
- May 1, 2026 – Gov. McMaster tweets that the General Assembly should review the map.
- May 5, 2026 – House votes on a sine-die amendment; Senate Majority Leader Massey discusses the issue with Trump.
- May 5-6, 2026 – Protesters chant “shame, shame, shame” in the Senate chamber; Sen. Raumesh Akbari calls the plan “an act of hate.”
- May 5-7, 2026 – Public hearing planned by Rep. Jordan Pace’s committee.
- May 14, 2026 – Scheduled adjournment; any amendment would allow lawmakers to reconvene after this date.
- June 9, 2026 – Primary election; early voting begins May 26.
Potential Impact on Representation and Elections
South Carolina’s current delegation is a 6-1 Republican majority. Republicans argue a new map could deliver a clean sweep of all seven seats, while Democrats contend that redrawing could dilute Black voting power and trigger legal challenges. Massey cautions that “if we get too cute… we could actually end up losing seats.” Clyburn’s 6th district, though no longer majority-Black, still packs Democratic voters; eliminating it could jeopardize his 18th-term bid.
Official Statements from State Leaders
- Gov. McMaster: “It depends on a lot of things that haven’t happened yet… the legislature has to make a lot of decisions.”
- Sen. Massey: “I’m concerned about whether we can hold seven seats… if we get too cute with this… we could actually end up losing seats.”
- House Speaker Smith: “We’ll look at that next week and see whether we’ll move that forward.”
- AG Wilson: “I fully support President Trump’s call to redistrict prior to the primary election and believe our General Assembly has the legal authority to do so.”
Opposition and Criticism
Democratic leaders label the push a “power grab” that revives Jim Crow-era tactics. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL) warned Republicans are “taking Alabama back to the Jim Crow era.” Rep. Justin Pearson (TN) called the plan “racist redistricting.” Martin Luther King III wrote a letter expressing “grave concern” that dividing Memphis would undermine his father’s voting-rights legacy. Sen. Akbari described the effort as “an act of hate.”
On-the-Ground Protests
Protesters gathered in the Tennessee State Capitol and in the South Carolina Senate hallway, chanting “shame, shame, shame” and demanding protection of minority-majority districts.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Gov. McMaster has repeatedly said redistricting is not needed now, yet Republican leaders and the White House are urging action. Senate Majority Leader Massey admits uncertainty about sufficient votes, while House Speaker Smith says the amendment’s fate is still undecided. No definitive vote outcome has been reported, leaving the legal necessity of a redraw ambiguous.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This decision threatens to send our country deeper into the thicket of never-ending redistricting fights,” — Rep. Jim Clyburn, Democrat, U.S. Representative, South Carolina’s 6th District
- “I’m concerned about whether we can hold seven seats. Frankly, I’m concerned, as I’ve said before, if you get too cute with this and you start playing with it too much that you could actually end up losing seats,” — Sen. Shane Massey, Republican, South Carolina Senate Majority Leader
- “To be unequivocally clear: I fully support President Trump’s call to redistrict prior to the primary election and believe our General Assembly has the legal authority to do so.” — Attorney General Alan Wilson, Republican, South Carolina
- “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.” — Gov. Henry McMaster, Republican, Governor of South Carolina
- “an act of hate.” — Sen. Raumesh Akbari, Democrat, South Carolina Senate
- “working to secure an electoral victory by taking Alabama back to the Jim Crow era, and we won’t go back,” — Rep. Terri Sewell, Democrat, U.S. Representative, Alabama
What’s Next
The House will vote on the sine-die amendment this week; if passed, the Senate must approve a post-adjournment redistricting session. A public hearing is slated for early May, and any new map would need to be finalized before the June 9 primary to avoid postponing elections. Legal challenges are expected from civil-rights groups regardless of the outcome.
