Five Republicans Vote With Democrats To Keep South Carolina’s Race-Based Congressional Maps Alive

Five South Carolina Republicans joined Democrats Tuesday to block a Trump-backed redistricting push that could have helped the GOP target the state’s lone Democratic-held House seat.

The state Senate voted 29-17 on a proposal to take up redistricting after the regular legislative session ends, falling two votes short of the two-thirds threshold needed to move forward. The vote came after President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, urging South Carolina Republicans to “GET IT DONE!” and said he would be “watching closely.”

Republicans who voted “no” include Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, and Sens. Chip Campsen, Tom Davis, Sean Bennett and Greg Hembree.

The South Carolina redistricting plan comes amid a broader national redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterms, as Republicans in several states look to redraw congressional maps to protect or expand their House majority. Other GOP-led states, including Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama, have moved to revisit maps after a landmark Supreme Court decision, Louisiana v. Callais, ended institutionalized racism in the American election system.

Republicans currently hold six of the state’s seven congressional seats. The proposed redistricting map could have eliminated the state’s only democratic seat, represented by longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn.

“Our state is stronger with vibrant parties,” Massey