South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn shared his perspective after the state Senate rejected President Donald Trump’s push to redraw the state’s congressional map.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn shared his perspective after the state Senate rejected President Donald Trump’s push to redraw the state’s congressional map, which would have likely given Republicans an extra seat.
The proposal would have directly impacted his district, which includes several counties from Richland down to Jasper.
The measure passed the South Carolina House last week, and would have scheduled a special primary in August under new maps.
“I don’t know what all this is about but I do know this, the congressional lines were looked at by the Supreme Court two years ago and the Supreme Court said they were constitutional,” Rep. Clyburn said. “And you heard in all the discussions, why are we doing this, the constitution didn’t dictate it, nobody in South Carolina asked for it.”
State senators who supported the redistricting plan failed to garner the necessary votes to pass the map. The vote, also known as cloture, failed 20-24, just two shy from the 26 votes needed to pass.
SC Gov. McMaster said in a statement following the vote: “President Trump needs a Republican Congress to continue pursuing conservative policies that make our nation stronger… I am disappointed that day has not yet come.”
The vote came on the same day early voting for the June primary elections began, which impacted how some senators’ support for the measure. Sen. Richard Cash said he could no longer support redistricting with voting already underway.
If the redistricting map had passed, voters in the new districts would have had to vote again. Senators said holding three statewide elections in five months would create major logistical challenges.
There was also concern the new maps would possibly lead to Democrats gaining a congressional seat.
“One person sitting in Washington said, the heck with what the Constitution said, this is what I want,” Clyburn said during his visit to Charlotte. “And I would have hoped that the governor of South Carolina would have heed to the Constitution.”
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