Redistricting Plan Threatens South Carolina's Sole Black Congressional Seat

A proposal to redraw South Carolina’s congressional map would dismantle the 6th district, the only Black-held seat since 1993. The plan, championed by former President Donald Trump and backed by state Republicans, prompted Governor Henry McMaster to call a special session. It follows U.S. Supreme Court’s narrowing of the Voting Rights Act, which had limited racially discriminatory redistricting.

The Guardian

The 6th district was created after the 1990 census through a “peace pact” between civil-rights leaders and white conservatives. Black legislators agreed to support a Republican-drawn map if a Black-majority district was guaranteed, creating a district that runs from Georgia border through Charleston, the Gullah Geechee coast, two historically Black colleges, and Columbia.

The Guardian

U.S. Census data put the Black-population share of the district at about 46 percent, near a majority. Black residents make up roughly one-quarter of the state’s population, with a quarter of them living in the district. The area also draws migrants for manufacturing jobs and retirees attracted by low taxes.

The Guardian

Governor McMaster called the session routine. Trump urged Republicans to “tear up” the map, calling the current district an outdated concession. Clyburn warned the plan would roll back civil-rights gains and likened it to Jim Crow-era segregation. Massey opposed the redistricting, saying removing Democrats from the 6th could jeopardize Republican chances in neighboring districts.

The Guardian

Activists say the change threatens decades of Black political representation. Jessica Thomas cited the district’s “rich, deep history of organizing, of social change, of slavery, of harm.” Damien Barber questioned how the state can remain welcoming while erasing minority-majority districts. Critics describe effort as racist; supporters frame it as anti-establishment.

The Guardian

Sources differ on whether the district presently holds a Black majority; estimates range from just under to just over 50 percent. No analysis of how new boundaries would shift demographics is available, leaving electoral impact uncertain.

The Guardian

• “We will vote with your map on the condition that you draw one congressional district where an African American can be elected.” — Eaddy Roe Willard, Republican activist

The Guardian

• “This place has such a rich, deep history of organizing, of social change, of slavery, of harm. And none of it has really been reckoned with,” — Jessica Thomas, activist

The Guardian

• “I’m gonna run no matter what,” — James Clyburn, U.S. Representative

The Guardian

• “a comprehensive approach to creating Jim Crow 2.0” — James Clyburn, U.S. Representative

The Guardian

The special session will vote on the proposal in the coming weeks. If approved, the new map could be used for 2026 elections, potentially reshaping South Carolina’s congressional delegation and prompting legal challenges under Voting Rights Act.

The Guardian