South Carolina Governor Plans Special Session to Redraw House Maps
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, plans to call a special legislative session focused on redrawing the state's congressional maps, potentially eliminating the state's only Democratic district held by Representative James E. Clyburn.
- This decision follows a failed attempt by Republican lawmakers to convene the legislature for redistricting, blocked by five Republican senators who sided with Democrats.
- McMaster, barred from seeking re-election due to term limits, is responding to increased pressure, including from former President Trump, who wants all seven South Carolina congressional districts to be held by Republicans before the midterm elections.
- The move comes amid heightened redistricting battles in the South following a recent Supreme Court decision that weakened the Voting Rights Act.
- McMaster's office declined to comment on the special session announcement, though he had previously indicated he would let the Republican-controlled General Assembly handle redistricting.