McMaster Expected to Call Special Session on South Carolina Congressional Map

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to call a special legislative session immediately after the General Assembly adjourns on May 14, with lawmakers preparing to revisit the state's congressional map. According to the Greenville News, State Rep. Wendell Jones said House lawmakers were informed on May 13 that the governor planned to summon them back after adjournment. The report said U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace indicated the House could reconvene as soon as May 15. The expected session would focus on whether the state's congressional map, previously upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, still complies with the Constitution and accounts for changes to the election schedule.

The Details

The Greenville News, reporting in USA Today, said South Carolina lawmakers were told on May 13 that McMaster intended to call a special session after the legislature adjourns at 5 p.m. on May 14. State Rep. Wendell Jones confirmed that House members had been notified of the governor's plan. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace said the House could be called back as soon as May 15, according to the report.

McMaster previously told reporters he wants the legislature to ensure South Carolina's congressional map, previously upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, still complies with the U.S. Constitution and to account for election schedule changes, South Carolina Public Radio reported. The station first reported on May 5 that the House may consider a congressional map redraw in a special session, indicating the issue had been under discussion for more than a week before lawmakers were formally told to expect the call.

The governor's stated rationale centers on constitutional compliance and election schedule changes rather than any specific district. However, USA Today reported that pressure for the session increased after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais weakened Voting Rights Act protections. The Greenville News reported that some Republicans want to redraw the map targeting the Democratic-majority 6th Congressional District held by Rep. James Clyburn.

Context

The potential special session has been brewing since at least early May. South Carolina Public Radio reported on May 5 that the House may consider a congressional map redraw in a special session, well before McMaster's plan became public. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn at 5 p.m. on May 14.

Pressure intensified following the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision, which weakened Voting Rights Act protections, according to USA Today. The Greenville News reported that some Republicans are seeking to redraw the map in a way that affects the Democratic-majority 6th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. James Clyburn.

McMaster has previously said he wants lawmakers to ensure the South Carolina congressional map upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court still complies with the U.S. Constitution, and to factor in election schedule changes. Accessible corroborating reporting frames the expected session around the state's congressional map rather than state House districts.

What's Next

If McMaster calls the session as expected, the legislature would reconvene shortly after its May 14 adjournment, potentially convening on May 15. Lawmakers would then be asked to consider whether to redraw the state's congressional map to address constitutional compliance and election schedule changes as outlined by the governor.

The exact scope of any map changes remains unclear. The Greenville News reported that some Republicans want to redraw the map targeting the Democratic-majority 6th Congressional District held by Rep. James Clyburn. Whether such changes would be taken up in the special session has not been confirmed.