South Carolina state senators reject a redistricting plan that aligns with proposals pushed by President Donald Trump, despite pressure on Republicans to approve new congressional maps following a US Supreme Court decision. In Tuesday’s vote, the state senate defeated the proposal to extend the legislative session to address redistricting, according to Newsweek. The Guardian reports that the broader redistricting effort in the senate fails as well, with the senate voting 29–17 against following the approach used in other Republican-controlled states. The margin is short of the two-thirds requirement needed to advance the measure.
The Guardian says five Republicans join all Democrats to reject the proposal. Shane Massey, the Republican majority leader in the senate, acknowledges likely consequences for opposing the president’s demands, and argues that redrawing districts would not serve South Carolina’s interests. The developments come after the Supreme Court effectively weakened a key part of the Voting Rights Act that had helped prevent racial discrimination, prompting renewed efforts to revise electoral maps.
