Republican lawmakers in South Carolina have defied Donald Trump by rejecting a rushed proposal to redraw the state's congressional districts ahead of the US midterm elections. In a 26-18 vote, the state senate blocked mid-decade redistricting during a special session, ending hopes in Washington to split up Congressman Jim Clyburn's district and boost Republican gains.
The proposal would have cancelled the ongoing congressional election—early voting began on Tuesday—and replaced it with new district lines that would significantly reduce reliably Democratic voters in Clyburn's district. The push came as Republicans seek to leverage a recent US Supreme Court ruling that weakened minority protections under the Voting Rights Act.
State Senator Tom Davis, a Republican, criticised the process, noting that a consultant from Washington DC generated the map without input from South Carolinians. “Seven minutes and 40 seconds is our legislative record… I don’t know how anybody with a straight face in this chamber can vote for a map with that absence of diligence,” he said. Other senators argued it was too late to make changes, with Republican Senator Richard Cash stating, “Neither my conscience nor common sense is going to let me stop an election that is already under way.”
Jim Clyburn, the Democrat whose district was targeted, cast an early ballot in Orangeburg and insisted he would run for re-election regardless of the district's shape. “I’m OK if it’s Trump plus 20,” he said. More than 26,000 votes were cast by noon on the first day of early voting, a significant increase compared to previous elections.
Democratic Senator Russell Ott said the rejection reflected South Carolina's independent spirit. “We’re not going to be dictated to… That’s kind of in our DNA,” he said. He also noted that Republican members who opposed Trump's demands may face backlash. Trump had lobbied for the plan, making phone calls to Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who resisted, saying, “There are likely consequences for me, personally… I’m comfortable with that.”
