South Carolina could redraw its congressional districts as Republican leaders push for new maps ahead of upcoming elections. The effort, driven by a Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana's voting boundaries and pressure from national party figures, has gained traction among GOP officials seeking political advantage. Governor Henry McMaster has deferred the decision to the legislature while declining to take a definitive stance on the matter.
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey revealed that President Trump called him twice urging consideration of new maps in light of the Supreme Court decision. Massey said he has also fielded conversations with White House officials and shared his concerns with them about the redistricting push. Republican gubernatorial candidates and the state GOP chairman have called for the redistricting effort in hopes of flipping an additional congressional seat.
McMaster stopped short of endorsing or opposing the redistricting push, citing uncertainty about future developments and the complexities involved. "It depends on a lot of things that haven't happened yet or may happen. The legislature has got a lot of decisions. It's up to the legislature," the governor said. When pressed on what his position would be if lawmakers did redraw the maps, McMaster declined to provide specifics, noting he could not predict the strength of support in the legislature or which chamber might prioritize the effort.
Massey expressed significant reservations about the redistricting strategy, warning that aggressive map changes could backfire for Republicans. He cited concern about preserving the state's current 6-to-1 Republican congressional advantage. "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," Massey said. He remained uncertain whether sufficient votes exist to pass such a measure.
House lawmakers were scheduled to vote Wednesday on an end-of-session resolution that includes a provision allowing lawmakers to be called back after the formal session concludes. The chamber's vote would come first, with the measure then moving to the Senate if it passes. The legislature's anticipated adjournment date is May 14.
