South Carolina's governor is poised to drag lawmakers back to Columbia for a fight that could wipe out the state's lone Democratic-held House seat. GOP Gov. Henry McMaster plans to summon the state Legislature into a special session to redraw congressional lines, a move that could target the district long represented by Democrat James Clyburn, lawmakers told the New York Times on Wednesday. The Post and Courier notes that McMaster's official announcement for a special session is expected to come later Thursday, after the regular session adjourns at 5pm local time.
The shift comes a day after a handful of Republican senators joined Democrats to block a return to the Capitol for redistricting, and amid pressure from President Trump for a GOP sweep of all seven seats, per the Times. Politico notes that McMaster felt the pressure to gerrymander from the president and his allies after he'd initially suggested that he wouldn't be calling a special session on this matter.
Now, the timeline is tight: Early voting starts in two weeks, and new maps would likely need to pass by May 26 or force a delay of the June 9 primaries, raising legal questions about overseas ballots already cast. Republicans hold the Legislature and need only a simple majority, but they're currently split on whether mid-decade map changes are worth the risk. State Senate GOP leader Shane Massey has warned the move is "extremely risky" and could even help Democrats, while House leader Davey Hiott says his chamber is ready to vote as soon as next week.
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