South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Thursday called a special session for state lawmakers to address congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The governor issued an Executive Order designating the General Assembly’s return for an extra legislative session beginning Friday, May 15 at 11:00 AM.
McMaster initially avoided setting a special session but reversed course after the Republican-led state Senate rejected a measure this week to extend its current session for redrawing maps. This decision followed pressure from President Donald Trump.
South Carolina is among several Southern states rushing to redraw electoral boundaries following last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted Voting Rights Act protections against racial gerrymandering. Tennessee recently enacted a map dividing the state’s lone majority-Black congressional district, represented by Rep. Steve Cohen. Alabama has cleared the path for implementing a map with one fewer majority-minority districts than currently held, while Louisiana’s Senate passed legislation targeting one of its two Democratic-held seats.
The state’s congressional delegation consists of six Republicans and one Democrat in the House of Representatives, with Representative Jim Clyburn as the sole Democrat.
Lawmakers face an immediate time crunch. South Carolina’s primaries are set for June 9, but early voting begins within two weeks, requiring new maps by May 26 to avoid disruptions. The South Carolina House has proposed moving primary elections to August to accommodate redistricting efforts.
Legal hurdles also present challenges, as hundreds of overseas voters have already cast ballots in the current cycle, potentially prompting lawsuits if their votes are invalidated due to changes in congressional election dates.
While Republicans control both chambers and would need only a simple majority to approve new maps, it remains unclear whether they will pass within the special session timeframe. Republican House leader Davey Hiott stated his chamber is prepared to vote on a map as quickly as possible, ideally next week. Senate Republican leader Shane Massey, however, expressed apprehension about rapid action, emphasizing public input and opposing the redistricting effort.
