In a blow to President Donald Trump’s demands for all GOP-controlled states to redraw their congressional maps to give themselves extra seats, a majority of the South Carolina Senate effectively voted to pull the plug on redistricting for now, with a handful of Republican lawmakers begrudgingly admitting Democrats had successfully run out the clock and they couldn’t change the maps because primary voting was already underway.
South Carolina Republicans could revisit the gerrymandering attempt, but the upshot is that, for now, the state’s sole Democratic congressman, longtime powerbroker Rep. Jim Clyburn, will be able to secure another term in office. And both the White House and MAGA influencers are furious about it.
“We knew it was bumpy all along, never a guarantee. But the votes were there on the last vote and nothing changed,” said one White House official, adding that South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who had supported Trump’s efforts to draw out the state’s one majority-Black district, didn’t give any warning that the vote was about to fail.
Meanwhile, pro-Trump commenters on social media lashed out at the state lawmakers, accusing them of betrayal.
“This was the slimmest House majority in American history, a chance to protect President Trump’s agenda, and a generational opportunity to give 1 million South Carolinians a vote that finally counts. It was sitting right there. All it required was holding the line 1 more time. They didn’t,” raged Big Dog Strategies senior vice president Justin Evans, naming all the GOP state lawmakers who voted against the gerrymander. “We will remember who showed up, and we will remember who walked away.”
“South Carolina Redistricting likely DEAD! Vital cloture vote to limit debate and force a vote in the SC Senate FAILS 20-24,” wrote South Carolina Freedom Caucus founding chair and right-wing talk radio host Adam Morgan, who also named all the lawmakers. “Citing Democrats’ argument that ‘early voting began today so it’s too late.’ Looks like it was all a setup.”
“This is why RINOs CAN NEVER BE TRUSTED — no matter WHAT they say,” wrote MAGA influencer Nick Sortor. “Another reason people like [Texas Sen. John] Cornyn MUST GO. RINOs said they can no longer move forward with redistricting because early voting started today. They KNEW it was starting today, but dragged their feet. They could’ve finished redistricting LAST WEEK. NEVER TRUST A RINO! They NEVER change.”
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