SouthernWorldwide.com – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and a fellow Republican, has announced a special legislative session to convene on Friday. The purpose of this session is to address the state budget and congressional districts within South Carolina.
McMaster stated on X, “I have issued an Executive Order calling the General Assembly back for an extra legislative session to address the state budget and congressional districts beginning Friday, May 15, at 11:00 AM.” This action comes amidst internal Republican disagreements over a Trump-backed initiative to redraw the state’s congressional map.
This redistricting push could potentially jeopardize the political future of Democratic Representative James Clyburn. Clyburn is widely credited with playing a pivotal role in reviving President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign.
The effort to redraw the map faced an initial setback when Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, along with four other senators, sided with Democrats. They successfully blocked a proposal that would have allowed the Senate to vote on redistricting after the legislative session concluded on Thursday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
This development occurred just hours after former President Donald Trump issued a warning, stating he is “watching closely” the redistricting process. Proponents of the redraw hope it will eliminate the sole Democratic seat in the state’s congressional delegation. Trump also advised lawmakers to consider moving the primary election date for House members to August.
Representative Clyburn, an octogenarian from Orangeburg, is considered a significant figure in South Carolina’s Democratic politics. His endorsement is seen as crucial, and he is credited with revitalizing then-candidate Biden’s struggling campaign in 2020. However, his time in Congress may be limited if the state’s congressional map is redrawn, as this would likely shift the state’s strong Republican advantage across its seven districts.
Clyburn, however, expressed confidence in his ability to win re-election, regardless of any changes to the congressional map. In an interview with CNN, he stated, “I don’t know why people think I could not get re-elected if they redistrict South Carolina. I have a district that’s about 45 percent African American. I have no idea what the number will be after the legislature finishes, but whatever that number is, I will be running on my record and America’s promise.”
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey argued in a speech on the Senate floor that following Trump’s lead on redistricting would not serve the best interests of South Carolina. He asserted, “South Carolina has always punched above their weight. Doing this will diminish that influence.”
Massey also acknowledged the potential political repercussions he might face from Trump and his supporters for taking this stance. “There are likely consequences for me, personally, taking the position that I am right now,” Massey said. “I’m comfortable with that. I may not like it, but I’m comfortable with it…My conscience is clear on this one.”
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Callais case, which invalidated Louisiana’s race-conscious map that created two districts heavily favoring Democratic voters, has already prompted action in other states like Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Clyburn’s district itself was reportedly shaped following a request from the George H.W. Bush Justice Department concerning racial demographics, suggesting its future might be uncertain.
In 1992, the Department of Justice recommended the creation of a majority-Black congressional district in South Carolina. Clyburn subsequently won the seat upon the retirement of fellow Democratic Representative Robin Mooneyhan Tallon of Hemingway, according to a publication from the Government Printing Office regarding Black Americans in Congress.
Clyburn is also reportedly related to George Washington Murray, a former Republican Congressman from South Carolina who served in the 1890s.
The 85-year-old Clyburn recently finalized documents for his re-election campaign. He humorously remarked that he is in good health and is soon celebrating the 47th anniversary of his 39th birthday.
Should the redistricting efforts fail and Clyburn secure another term, he would join a growing number of elderly lawmakers who remain active in politics. The oldest current member of Congress is Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who is 92 years old.
Other senior lawmakers facing re-election in 2026 include Representative Hal Rogers, R-Ky., who is 88, and Representative Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who is 87. Senator James Risch, R-Idaho, is 83 and is running for re-election, which would make him 89 by the end of his next term.
Alabama convened a special session earlier in May, which House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, correctly predicted would lead to court intervention regarding the validity of a redistricting referendum in that state. Tennessee successfully redrew its congressional map, a move likely to result in the ouster of long-serving Democratic Representative Steve Cohen of Shelby County.
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Mississippi, however, encountered a setback in its redistricting efforts. Governor Tate Reeves paused a push, influenced by the Callais decision, to remove former House Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, a Democrat representing Mississippi’s Delta region.
