The South Carolina Senate failed to pass a highly contested congressional redistricting bill on Tuesday, stalling the proposal after days of intense floor debate before lawmakers adjourned for a multi-week recess.
The legislative standstill means the proposal will remain frozen until at least June 10, which is the earliest lawmakers are expected to reconvene. The bill had advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, but failing to secure a final floor vote prevents the redrawn map from reaching Governor Henry McMaster’s desk for his signature.
The sudden push to redraw the state’s boundaries followed a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling concerning Louisiana’s congressional map, which found parts of that state’s boundaries unconstitutional and sparked redistricting efforts across the South.
Central to the debate is the 6th Congressional District, currently represented by Congressman Jim Clyburn and held as the state’s sole Democratic congressional seat. Opponents of the restructuring have raised sharp concerns regarding gerrymandering, restricted voter access, and the dilution of minority representation.
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