South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday ordered state lawmakers into an emergency session to address redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, issuing a formal executive order that would convene the General Assembly for an extra legislative session beginning Friday, May 15, at 11:00 AM.

McMaster initially avoided calling a special session but reversed his decision after the Republican-led state Senate rejected a measure this week to extend its current session and redraw congressional maps, despite pressure from President Donald Trump.

The move follows a surge of Southern states accelerating efforts to reshape electoral boundaries following last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively eliminated Voting Rights Act protections against racial gerrymandering. Tennessee has enacted a map that splits its lone majority-Black congressional district—currently represented by Rep. Steve Cohen. The Supreme Court also cleared the path for Alabama to implement a map with one fewer majority-minority districts than it currently holds, and Thursday saw Louisiana’s Senate pass a map targeting one of the state’s two Democratic-held seats.

South Carolina’s congressional delegation consists of six Republicans and one Democrat in the House, with Rep. Jim Clyburn serving as the lone Democrat.

Lawmakers face significant time constraints if McMaster’s order is implemented, as the state’s primary elections are scheduled for June 9 but early voting begins within two weeks. To accommodate new maps, the South Carolina House has proposed moving congressional primaries to August. However, legal challenges loom large, with hundreds of overseas voters having already cast ballots that could trigger lawsuits if their votes are discarded due to a change in election dates.

While Republicans control both chambers and would require only a simple majority to approve redistricting maps, the process remains contentious. Republican House leader Davey Hiott indicated his chamber is prepared to vote on a map as soon as Friday morning, ideally by next week. In contrast, Senate leader Shane Massey—whose recent impassioned speeches against redistricting drew national attention—emphasized the need for public input and expressed concerns about rushing the process.