The South Carolina House Rules Committee has opened the door for possible congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In a vote of 12 to 2, committee members amended the sine die resolution to include redistricting as an option for a special session.

South Carolina’s current congressional delegation consists of six Republicans and one Democrat. A newly-drawn map could potentially produce a seven-to-zero Republican advantage in the House.

This would occur after the regular legislative session has adjourned and following the submission of some absentee ballots.

The resolution requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers to pass. However, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster stated he will not call a special session to redraw the state’s congressional map. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the current congressional map in 2024, and given recent decisions on the Voting Rights Act, it is appropriate for the General Assembly to ensure compliance with federal law and the Constitution.

Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn has represented South Carolina’s sixth congressional district since its redrawing in 1992 to favor minority voters. He is running for his eighteenth term. However, winning reelection could become more difficult if Republicans redraw his district.

The committee passed a proposal on Wednesday that allows South Carolina lawmakers to consider drawing new congressional districts, setting up a potential showdown on the state House floor later this week.

Republicans hold a supermajority in the legislature, but some are concerned that an attempt to eliminate the state’s lone Democratic representative could backfire and create up to two competitive districts for Democrats.

Democratic State Representative Spencer Wetmore criticized the effort as cynical politics focused more on winning for narrow groups than helping all people. “Daddy Trump calls and needs to grasp at some power, and once again we jump,” she remarked.

The state’s primaries are scheduled for June 9, with early voting beginning in three weeks.