South Carolina’s Republican-majority Senate voted to stop a measure to push a new congressional map forward — an open rejection of President Donald Trump’sdemand for redistricting, according to reports.
As early voting began on Tuesday for the already scheduled June primary, a measure to accept a redrawn congressional map failed in the state’s Senate in a 20-24 vote, NBC News reported.
The vote “was a surprise rejection of President Donald Trump, who had urged lawmakers to pass a redrawn map that eliminated the state’s single majority-Black district and gave Republicans a chance to win the seat,” according to NBC News.
Last week, the South Carolina House had approved the map and aimed to enact it for the midterm elections this fall.
That changed on Tuesday, despite pressure from the Trump White House. Lawmakers had considered seeking another primary election for the districts affected by the new map in August, but some GOP lawmakers ended up changing their minds.
“Neither my conscience nor my common sense will allow me to stop an election that is already underway,” said Republican state Sen. Richard Cash, who reportedly changed his vote citing the timing.
Earlier this month, South Carolina Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said that a new, last-minute map could be “short-sighted,” according to NBC News.
“I believe that our state is stronger with vibrant parties. I think we, as a whole, are stronger when we have a clash of ideas. I think that’s true at the national level. I think it’s true at the state level. We are stronger when we have a clash of ideas and we can discuss those policy goals,” Massey said. “Republicans are stronger when the Democratic Party is vibrant and viable.”
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