SC Senate Halts Redistricting Bid as Early Voting Opens

On the first day of early voting in South Carolina, the Senate killed a mid-cycle redistricting bill that would have redrawn the state’s congressional maps to benefit Republicans, with 12 Republicans joining 12 Democrats to block the measure. A follow-up 26-18 vote to continue the bill effectively ended redistricting for the year. Gov. Henry McMaster had pushed for a quick redraw, but concerns over voting integrity, cost, and timing, plus the ongoing election, led lawmakers to shelve the effort. The Senate will reconvene June 10, but a timely redistricting before the 2026 midterms appears unlikely.