South Carolina Republicans block plan to eliminate Clyburn's House seat [View all]

Source: Washington Post

May 12, 2026 at 5:03 p.m. EDT


Republicans in South Carolina’s legislature on Tuesday rejected a plan aimed at flipping the state’s lone Democratic-held House seat, which has long been occupied by one of the country’s most senior and influential Black leaders.

The decision was a victory — at least for now — for Rep. James E. Clyburn, the Democrat whose seat was at risk, and a setback for President Donald Trump. The president has persuaded Republicans in other states to redraw their congressional maps to boost the party’s chances of hanging on to its slim House majority.

South Carolina Republicans decided not to redraw their map after a GOP leader warned it could backfire. Republicans now hold six of the state’s seven congressional seats, but state Senate Majority Leader A. Shane Massey argued that a new map would spread out Republicans’ core voters so much that they would wind up with five.

In a lengthy floor speech, Massey told his colleagues they shouldn’t get too greedy. “To most people in the country, I think this is a perfect example of just how much elected officials have lost their way,” he said. “Too many people in power just want to do whatever it takes to stay in power.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/05/12/south-carolina-republicans-block-plan-eliminate-james-clyburns-house-seat/