The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for May 22, 2026
South Carolina legislators advanced a new congressional redistricting map May 20th, after Governor Henry McMaster ordered a special session. The map, which likely flips South Carolina’s 6th congressional district and only blue seat, passed the full House, a Senate committee and is under consideration in the full Senate.
If passed, the map pushes the Congressional primary to August 18th, at an additional cost of $5 to $6 million taxpayer dollars. The South Carolina Daily Gazette reported that the House’s 74-36 vote came a week after 11,000 absentee ballots were mailed out prior to the June 9th primary date. Votes cast for congressional candidates on those ballots will be voided.
There was drama before the vote, too. Anticipating an onslaught of Democratic amendments to bog down the bill, the GOP majority House Rules Committee changed House rules to bypass the amendments, posting a notice only eight minutes before the meeting, instead of 24 hours. Pro-democracy groups went to court, but a state circuit court judge dismissed the case Wednesday afternoon, saying the General Assembly could dictate its own public meeting rules.
The full Senate takes up the issue May 21st. The map is likely to pass and diminish chances for powerful 17-term Black Congressman James Clyburn to be re-elected.
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
South Carolina Daily Gazette – House GOP passes new voting lines for SC ahead of court hearing on first lawsuit
South Carolina Daily Gazette – Judge declines to stop redistricting, says FOIA doesn’t apply to SC House rule changes
South Carolina Daily Gazette – Bill redrawing SC congressional voting lines advances in Senate as cost estimates double
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – (May 14) Redistricting Firefight: SC Gov. Signals Special Session to Bypass Senate Vote; GA Gov. Calls Special Session for 2028 Maps; MD Senate May Reconsider
American Democracy Minute – (May 13) SC Senate Derails Redistricting of Congressional Map; MO Supreme Court Finds Map Eliminating Majority Black Kansas City District Constitutional
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU SC, League of Women Voters SC
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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