South Carolina state Senate rejects effort to tackle redistricting despite pressure from Trump

2026 ElectionSouth Carolina state Senate rejects effort to tackle redistricting despite pressure from TrumpFive Republican lawmakers defected and voted against a plan to extend their legislative session in order to carve up the state’s lone Democratic U.S. House district.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00South Carolina state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey opposed an effort to redraw the state's congressional map.Jeffrey Collins / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 12, 2026, 5:19 PM EDTBy Adam EdelmanThe Republican-led South Carolina state Senate on Tuesday rejected a measure to take up a redraw of the state’s congressional map despite pressure from President Donald Trump.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.A resolution that would have extended the state’s current legislative session, set to end this week, to tackle redistricting fell short of the two-thirds support needed, with five Republicans voting against it. The vote shuts the door, at least for now, for Republicans to carve up the state’s lone majority-Black district, represented by longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, ahead of the midterm elections. Trump had urged the South Carolina state Senate to pass the resolution, which the state House had previously approved, in a Truth Social post Monday night.“The South Carolina State Senate has a big vote tomorrow on Redistricting. I’m watching closely, along with all Republicans across the Country,” Trump posted. “South Carolina Republicans: BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS, just like the Republicans of the Great State of Tennessee were last week! Move the U.S. House Primaries to August, leave the rest on the same schedule. Everything will be fine. GET IT DONE!”Several GOP-controlled Southern states have considering redrawing their congressional maps following a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month that effectively eliminated the racial gerrymandering protections from the Vo...