Trending Now - Southern Governors Push for Special Sessions on Redistricting

WHO:

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to call a special session of the state legislature on Thursday afternoon.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - South Carolina state Sen. Tom Davis stated, "South Carolina's maps are legally sound, our electoral position is strong, and the process being proposed remains constitutionally and practically indefensible."

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - South Carolina's Republican Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to call a special session of the state legislature.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - South Carolina state Sen. Tom Davis, a Republican, opposed the procedural measure for redistricting.

NY Post - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is rumored to be considering a special session.

CBS News Politics - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has called for a special legislative session.

WHAT:

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The special session in South Carolina is aimed at adopting a congressional map that could jeopardize Rep. Jim Clyburn's (D-SC) seat.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Republicans in South Carolina are expected to pass a map that would alter powerful Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn's district, favoring GOP candidates in all seven districts in the state.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - McMaster is expected to call for the special session to address redrawing the state's congressional map.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - South Carolina's primaries are scheduled to be held on June 9, though there is a separate bill that would move them to August.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - Republicans in South Carolina are expected to pass a map that would alter Rep. Jim Clyburn's district.

CBS News - Gov. Brian Kemp signed a proclamation convening the Georgia General Assembly for a special session on June 17 to address redistricting.

CBS News - The special session will allow lawmakers to consider changes to district divisions for various elected offices, with any changes set to take effect for the 2028 election cycle.

CBS News - Kemp stated, "It's clear that Callais requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle."

CBS News - The special session in Georgia will focus on redistricting due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected to require changes to Georgia's electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle.

CBS News - The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, finding that Louisiana's second majority-Black congressional district was an unconstitutional gerrymander.

NY Post - The special session in South Carolina is aimed at adopting a congressional map that could jeopardize Rep. Jim Clyburn's (D-SC) seat.

CBS News Politics - The special session in Georgia will focus on redistricting.

WHERE:

CBS News Politics - The special session will take place at the Capitol in Georgia.

WHEN:

CBS News - Georgia lawmakers will return for the special session on June 17 to address redistricting.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The special session in South Carolina is expected to be called after the legislature adjourns Thursday afternoon.

CBS News - Georgia lawmakers are scheduled to return for the special session on June 17 to address redistricting in light of a Supreme Court ruling.

CBS News Politics - Georgia lawmakers are scheduled to return for the special session on June 17.

WHY:

CBS News - The special session is necessary to take up redistricting work after the regular session of the 2026 General Assembly adjourned on April 3.

CBS News - Kemp stated, "It's clear that Callais requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle."

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The motivation behind McMaster's potential special session is to pressure fellow Republicans in the state legislature regarding redistricting.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - The special session is being called as Republicans seek to retain control of the U.S. House by redrawing congressional maps.

CBS News - The special session is necessary due to the regular session of the 2026 General Assembly having adjourned on April 3, making it essential to take up redistricting work.

CBS News - The special session is necessary to address issues created by a July 1 effective date for changes to the state election code enacted under a 2024 Georgia law.

NY Post - The motivation behind McMaster's potential special session is to pressure fellow Republicans in the state legislature regarding redistricting.

HOW:

CBS News - Lawmakers will be limited to two specific purposes during the special session: to consider enacting, revising, repealing, or amending state law for district divisions and to address issues related to the state election code changes.

[09:40 AM EDT] - CBS News - A redistricting bill with a new congressional map will just need a simple majority vote in a special session.

CBS News - Lawmakers will be limited to two specific purposes during the special session: to consider changes to district divisions for various elected offices and to address issues related to the state election code changes.

NY Post - McMaster is rumored to be using the special session as a strategy to influence the congressional map decision.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 01:34 UTC)

Georgia lawmakers are set to reconvene for a special session on June 17 to tackle redistricting. This session comes after the regular session of the 2026 General Assembly wrapped up on April 3, with Governor Kemp emphasizing the need for new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle. During this special session, lawmakers will focus on two main objectives: revising district divisions and addressing changes to the state election code.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 23:17 UTC)

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is expected to call a special session of the state legislature on Thursday afternoon to adopt a new congressional map that could threaten the seat of Democratic Representative Jim Clyburn. State Senator Tom Davis has stated that the current maps are legally sound and that the proposed changes are constitutionally indefensible, indicating a strong push from Republicans to alter Clyburn's district in favor of GOP candidates. The redistricting bill will only require a simple majority vote to pass during this special session.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 15:44 UTC)

South Carolina's Republican Governor Henry McMaster is expected to call a special session of the state legislature to address redrawing the congressional map, a move aimed at helping Republicans retain control of the U.S. House. State Senator Tom Davis has opposed this procedural measure, while Republicans are anticipated to pass a new map that would alter Representative Jim Clyburn's district. With the state's primaries scheduled for June 9, there is also a separate bill that could push those elections to August, making the timing of this special session critical.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 07:51 UTC)

Governor Brian Kemp has announced a special session of the Georgia General Assembly, set to convene on June 17, to tackle redistricting ahead of the 2028 election cycle. This session will focus on making necessary changes to district divisions for various elected offices, as well as addressing updates to the state election code. Kemp emphasized the urgency of this meeting, stating that Georgia must adopt new electoral maps before the upcoming election cycle.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 06:11 UTC)

Georgia lawmakers are set to return for a special session on June 17 to tackle redistricting in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. This session will focus on necessary changes to Georgia's electoral maps following a 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which found that Louisiana's second majority-Black congressional district was an unconstitutional gerrymander. During this session, lawmakers will be limited to discussing adjustments to district divisions for elected offices and addressing issues stemming from changes to the state election code that will take effect on July 1.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 01:38 UTC)

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is rumored to be considering a special session aimed at adopting a congressional map that could jeopardize Representative Jim Clyburn's seat. Meanwhile, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has called for a special legislative session focused on redistricting, with lawmakers set to return to the Capitol on June 17. McMaster's potential session appears to be a strategy to pressure fellow Republicans in the state legislature regarding their decisions on the congressional map.