A measure to force a vote on redistricting failed the South Carolina state Senate on Tuesday after five Republican lawmakers defied President Trump and voted with Democrats against the redistricting effort.
“We are the most gerrymandered Republican state in the country already,” South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey (R), who voted against redistricting, argued in the state capitol.
Redistricting supporters sought to redraw longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn’s (D-SC) district to make it more competitive for Republicans.
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The Senate was two votes short of the two-thirds needed to pursue redistricting. Senators could try again before the legislative session ends Thursday.
Ahead of the “big vote,” President Trump noted on Truth Social that he would be “watching closely.”
“South Carolina Republicans: BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS, just like the Republicans of the Great State of Tennessee were last week! Move the U.S. House Primaries to August, leave the rest on the same schedule. Everything will be fine. GET IT DONE!” the president demanded.
