Why It Matters
South Carolina lawmakers will convene in special session to redraw congressional district lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The anticipated map would eliminate the state’s only majority-minority district, currently represented by longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, a senior member of his party’s House leadership.
The move follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened Voting Rights Act protections against racial gerrymandering, prompting several Southern states to pursue mid-decade redistricting efforts that favor Republican candidates.
What Happened
Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order Thursday calling the South Carolina General Assembly into special session beginning Friday morning. The session will address the state budget and congressional district boundaries.
McMaster had initially declined to convene a special session. He reversed course after the Republican-controlled state Senate rejected a procedural measure this week that would have extended the current legislative session to consider new district maps. The measure failed despite pressure from President Donald Trump, who urged South Carolina Republicans on social media to pursue redistricting.
Five Republican senators voted against the procedural measure, denying their party the two-thirds majority needed to advance it during the regular session. That group included Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who argued in floor remarks that both major parties benefit when each remains competitive.
By the Numbers
South Carolina currently has one majority-minority congressional district. The proposed redistricting would eliminate that district.
Under special session rules, a simple majority in both chambers will be sufficient to pass a new map, a lower threshold than the two-thirds vote required during the regular session.
The 2026 midterm elections are approximately 18 months away, making the timing of redistricting efforts unusual but legally permissible following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling.
Zoom Out
South Carolina joins multiple Southern states redrawing congressional maps after the Supreme Court’s decision limiting federal oversight of redistricting under the Voting Rights Act. Tennessee enacted a new map that divides the state’s only majority-Black district. Alabama received court approval to implement a map with one fewer majority-minority district than its current configuration. Louisiana’s state Senate advanced legislation targeting one of two Democratic-held seats.
The Supreme Court ruling removed a key legal barrier that previously prevented states from altering district lines in ways that could dilute minority voting strength. The decision has accelerated redistricting efforts in states where Republican-controlled legislatures seek to redraw maps between decennial census cycles.
What’s Next
The special session begins Friday. Lawmakers will need simple majority support in both the state House and Senate to enact new congressional district boundaries.
If approved, the redrawn map would take effect for the 2026 midterm elections. Legal challenges to the redistricting plan are possible, though the Supreme Court’s recent ruling has narrowed the grounds on which such challenges can succeed under federal law.