Lawmakers will return to Columbia to debate several issues, including redrawing South Carolina’s congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Henry McMaster has called South Carolina lawmakers back to Columbia for a special session expected to focus on congressional redistricting, keeping alive a controversial effort to redraw the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
McMaster issued the order just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday, about half an hour after the regular session ended. Specifically, the order calls for the legislature to consider the budget, redistricting, and other matters of public importance. The session will begin at 11 a.m. Friday.
The governor’s order comes after lawmakers adjourned the regular legislative session Thursday without reaching an agreement on how to continue debate over redistricting once the session ended.
The push in South Carolina is part of a broader national effort by both political parties to redraw congressional districts following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened portions of the federal Voting Rights Act. Republican-led states, including Texas, Missouri and Tennessee, have already moved forward with new maps, while other states continue debating changes.
South Carolina lawmakers are considering changes to all seven of the state’s congressional districts, including the 6th Congressional District, the state’s lone Democratic-leaning seat currently represented by Jim Clyburn.
Supporters of the proposal argue the current districts should be revisited following the Supreme Court ruling and say the changes would make the 6th District more politically competitive.
State Sen. Shane Massey had previously expressed skepticism about whether South Carolina’s maps needed to be redrawn at all, arguing the state’s current districts have already been upheld in court.
“Our map is perfectly constitutional right now,” Massey said Wednesday. “We are not Louisiana, we are not Alabama, we are not Mississippi. Our map is not unconstitutional.”
Meanwhile, State Sen. Luke Rankin, one of the proposal’s supporters, said the effort aims to make the districts more competitive.
“It’s about making the sixth congressional district a fair and competitive seat,” Rankin said. “It’s been a long stronghold for Jim Clyburn for many years, and this is about leveling the playing field.”
The issue has drawn criticism from voting rights advocates and Democrats, who argue the proposal could weaken Black voter representation in Congress by reshaping the state’s only Democratic district.
Any effort to redraw the maps would also require significant changes to South Carolina’s election calendar.
A House proposal would move the congressional primary elections from June to August. The South Carolina State Election Commission has estimated the change would cost more than $2 million.
Election officials have also warned lawmakers that absentee ballots have already been returned and that candidates may have to re-file for office if district lines change.
The timing and scope of the special session, including when lawmakers could begin debating new maps, are expected to be outlined in the governor’s official order.
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