McMaster Calls Special Session to Redraw South Carolina Map
Gov. Henry McMaster convened the General Assembly for May 15 to redraw congressional districts that could eliminate the state's only majority-minority seat held by Rep. James Clyburn.
FOX NewsMcMaster revives Trump-backed push to oust Biden kingmaker from Congress
Raw StoryGOP governor's abrupt reversal sets up 'do or die' moment for Dems: analyst
CBS NewsSouth Carolina governor calls special session on redistricting
NBC NewsSouth Carolina governor calls for a special session on redistricting
Just the NewsSouth Carolina governor tells state lawmakers to hold special session on redistricting
Overview
Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order on X calling the General Assembly into a special session to address the state budget and congressional districts beginning May 15 at 11:00 AM.
The move follows a Supreme Court ruling last month that narrowed Voting Rights Act protections and prompted Southern states to redraw maps to create more Republican-leaning seats.
A handful of Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey and state Sen. Tom Davis, blocked a procedural vote this week, while former President Donald Trump urged Republicans to act.
In a special session a simple majority will be needed in both chambers and Republicans may seek to redraw South Carolina's seven congressional districts in a way that would eliminate the state's only majority-minority district held by Rep. James Clyburn.
The special session begins Friday morning, May 15 at 11:00 AM, primaries are scheduled for June 9, and lawmakers could consider a separate bill to move them to August as they weigh passage of a new map.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a partisan and racial power play by emphasizing the expected elimination of the state's only majority-minority district, citing the Supreme Court's "gutted" ruling, and linking similar Southern actions. Editorial choices—loaded verbs and selective state examples—shape the narrative; quotes from Trump and Massey remain source content.