A new congressional map has been proposed in South Carolina, which could potentially eliminate the state’s lone Democrat-held U.S. House seat. State Rep. Jordan Pace, the chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, proposed the new map to make Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn’s district more competitive. South Carolina currently has six House Republicans and one Democrat in its congressional delegation. Pace was explicit in his goals: to make the state’s sole Democratic-held district competitive and pick up an extra Republican seat in the House.

“Even if there are Democrats who feel like they’re not represented very well by Mr. Clyburn and want to run in the primary, they have no hope of anything resembling a successful primary,” Pace said. He emphasized that “people don’t vote based on their skin color” and added, “They vote based on their principles. We can’t see inside their brains to know what their principles are, and we shouldn’t base that on their skin color.” He revealed his proposed congressional districts on X, stating, “It’s time to give the voters of SC’s 6th Congressional a chance at a change. Here’s my first draft the map that I intend to introduce this year to do exactly that.”

Clyburn has been unbeatable since his election in 1992, becoming the first Black South Carolinian to win election to Congress since 1897. He has maintained bipartisan support as his national stature grew and delivered federal dollars. He was dubbed a kingmaker for propelling Joe Biden’s presidential candidacy ahead of the 2020 election. Clyburn won re-election handily in 2024 to represent his Midlands district. His office did not immediately offer a comment on Pace’s proposed map on Nov. 19.

Pace, who posted his map on X on Nov. 18, said he plans to introduce legislation in January to launch the redistricting. Party leaders had previously shot down the idea when it first surfaced in September as a proposal from Fifth District U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor.