Focus turns to South Carolina’s 6th District as legal and political questions emerge ahead of session’s end.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Governor Henry McMaster is weighing in on the possibility of redrawing South Carolina’s congressional districts following a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that is already prompting renewed debate across the state.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race cannot be a factor when drawing congressional district lines. The decision, which struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, has led to discussions among Republicans in multiple states about whether maps should be redrawn.
In South Carolina, attention is focused on the 6th Congressional District, which was originally drawn in the early 1990s as a majority-minority district to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Speaking on the issue, McMaster said that in light of the court’s ruling, lawmakers may need to review the state’s current maps.
“The U.S. Supreme Court upheld South Carolina’s current congressional map in 2024,” McMaster said in a comment. “In light of the Court’s most recent decision on the Voting Rights Act, it would be appropriate for the General Assembly to ensure that South Carolina’s congressional map still complies with all requirements of federal law and the U.S. Constitution.”
The governor’s comments mark a shift from last year, when he opposed calls to redraw district lines outside of the once-a-decade redistricting process tied to the U.S. Census.
At the time, McMaster said changes should only happen every 10 years following new population data.
It remains unclear whether the South Carolina General Assembly will take up the issue before the legislative session ends in mid-May. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have previously acknowledged that any changes could spark legal challenges and renewed political debate over how district lines are drawn.
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