South Carolina Republicans Fail to Gerrymander Jim Clyburn Out of a Job

Democrats in South Carolina are celebrating a temporary win today, as the Republicans suffered a setback in their ongoing gerrymandering efforts in the state. According to NBC News, five Republicans sided with Democrats and voted against a plan to carve up the 6th Congressional District – the state’s only majority-Black voting district in the House of Representatives. The area is currently represented by Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, the 85-year-old congressman who has served the area since 1993.

Clyburn spoke out about the move on X, calling it a blatant attempt to eliminate the state’s only Democratic district, warning that it could start a dangerous race to the bottom for both political parties.

“This fight is bigger than one district,” he wrote. “It’s about whether our democracy belongs to the people, or to politicians who change the rules when they don’t like the results.”

Ahead of the vote, President Donald Trump issued a warning to the state’s Republicans, writing on his Truth Social platform that lawmakers should follow in the footsteps of those in Tennessee, who passed a new redistricting map that split the state’s only Black-majority voting bloc in Memphis, as The Root previously reported.

“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!”

But his words didn’t seem to intimidate Republican lawmakers, like Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who said in a floor speech that he believes the state is “stronger with vibrant parties.” He added that he refused to let the president’s words intimidate him.

“I have too much Southern blood in me to surrender. Indeed, as some of you will recognize, it is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to think and act for myself,” he said, as NBC News reported.

Other Republicans in the state, including South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who called the vote a “missed opportunity” for the state on X, are asking Republican Governor Henry McMaster to call a special session to

Republicans in Alabama and Louisiana are also looking to introduce new maps that would result in additional congressional seats for their party.