Trending Now - South Carolina Lawmakers Face Redistricting Challenge Amid Gerrymandering Concerns

WHO:

AP News - Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee announced that he is ending his reelection bid.

Democracy Docket - Gov. Henry McMaster (R) called lawmakers back to redraw the congressional map and eliminate South Carolina's lone majority-Black district.

Democracy Docket - Sen. Chip Campsen (R) criticized the new map, stating it had "no input from South Carolina citizens" and was "handed down from above."

Alternet - Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) expressed concern about mid-decade redistricting, stating, “I don’t think this is good for Republicans in 2028 and beyond.”

Democracy Docket - Gov. Henry McMaster (R) reversed his previous stance and called lawmakers back for a special session to redraw the congressional map.

Democracy Docket - Charleston Mayor William Cogswell (R) and Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie (R) criticized the rushed redistricting effort.

ABC News - President Trump is involved in the redistricting efforts.

ABC News - Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the new voting districts into law.

Democracy Docket - Gov. Henry McMaster (R) called lawmakers back for redistricting.

Democracy Docket - Sen. Chip Campsen (R) and Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey (R) are vocal opponents of the redistricting effort.

WHAT:

AP News - The Florida Legislature approved a new House map on April 29, which could help Republicans win several additional seats.

AP News - Lawsuits filed on behalf of voters seek a temporary injunction against the new House map for violating Florida's constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering.

AP News - The judge in Florida gave no timetable for when he will rule on the lawsuits regarding the new House map.

Democracy Docket - The South Carolina House is considering a proposal to decouple the congressional primary election from other races and push it back to August, which would cost the state about $2.5 million.

Democracy Docket - More than 9,000 absentee ballots have been sent out to military and overseas voters in South Carolina, with 549 of those ballots already returned.

ABC News - New voting districts in Florida could improve the GOP’s chances to win four additional seats in the November elections.

Democracy Docket - The South Carolina House is considering a proposal to push the congressional primary election back to August.

Democracy Docket - The South Carolina House is considering a proposal to decouple the congressional primary election from other races and push it back to August.

Democracy Docket - The cost of the proposed change to the primary election is estimated at $2.5 million.

ABC News - New U.S. House districts in Florida are facing a court challenge for violating a state constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering.

ABC News - Lawsuits filed on behalf of voters seek to block the new districts from being used in the midterm elections.

ABC News - Florida's Legislature approved the new House map on April 29.

Democracy Docket - McMaster's call for a special session aims to eliminate South Carolina's lone majority-Black district.

Democracy Docket - More than 9,000 absentee ballots have been sent out to military and overseas voters in South Carolina.

WHERE:

ABC News - The new U.S. House districts are in Florida.

Democracy Docket - The redistricting efforts are taking place in South Carolina.

WHEN:

ABC News - The court challenge to the new U.S. House districts in Florida is set for a Friday.

Democracy Docket - South Carolina's primary election is scheduled for June 9.

Democracy Docket - Early voting in South Carolina is set to begin in less than two weeks.

WHY:

AP News - The new U.S. House map in Florida is part of a national redistricting battle that gained steam last year when Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

Democracy Docket - McMaster's decision to call a special session was influenced by pressure from President Trump, reversing his earlier position against a special session.

Alternet - Trump initiated the mid-decade redistricting battle to help Republicans maintain a House majority as his economic policies were failing.

Democracy Docket - McMaster's decision to call a special session was influenced by pressure from Trump, reversing his earlier position against a special session.

ABC News - The redistricting in Florida is intended to help Republicans gain additional seats in the House.

Democracy Docket - McMaster's decision to call a special session was influenced by pressure from President Trump.

HOW:

AP News - The Florida new House map reshapes a southeastern district that was created to help elect a Black representative in an attempt to comply with federal law.

Democracy Docket - The new congressional map in South Carolina was reportedly drawn by GOP mapmaker Adam Kincaid and endorsed by the Trump White House.

NBC News - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new congressional map is facing its first day in court, challenging the removal of anti-gerrymandering provisions.

Democracy Docket - The new congressional map in South Carolina was reportedly drawn by GOP mapmaker Adam Kincaid and endorsed by the Trump White House.

ABC News - The new House map in Florida was drawn after a swift two-day special legislative session.

Democracy Docket - The South Carolina legislature is considering decoupling the congressional primary election from other races to allow more time for redistricting.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 01:30 UTC)

Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee has announced that he is ending his reelection bid. Meanwhile, the Florida Legislature approved a new House map on April 29, which could potentially help Republicans gain several additional seats, but lawsuits filed by voters are seeking a temporary injunction against this map for violating Florida's constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering. The judge overseeing the case has not provided a timetable for when a ruling will be made, and this new map is part of a larger national redistricting battle that gained momentum last year when Trump encouraged Texas Republicans to redraw their congressional districts.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 23:16 UTC)

In a significant move, Governor Henry McMaster has called lawmakers back to redraw South Carolina's congressional map, aiming to eliminate the state's only majority-Black district, a decision influenced by pressure from Trump. Senator Chip Campsen criticized the new map for lacking input from South Carolina citizens, claiming it was "handed down from above." Meanwhile, the South Carolina House is considering a proposal to decouple the congressional primary election from other races and push it back to August, which would cost the state about $2.5 million, as over 9,000 absentee ballots have already been sent to military and overseas voters.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 19:23 UTC)

Rep. Blake Moore from Utah has voiced his concerns about mid-decade redistricting, suggesting it may not bode well for Republicans in 2028 and beyond. Meanwhile, in Florida, new voting districts could potentially boost the GOP's chances of winning four additional seats in the upcoming November elections, while Governor Ron DeSantis' congressional map is now facing legal scrutiny over the removal of anti-gerrymandering provisions. Additionally, the South Carolina House is considering a proposal to move the congressional primary election to August, a move that could impact the political landscape.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 09:51 UTC)

In a significant move, Governor Henry McMaster has reversed his previous stance and called lawmakers back for a special session to redraw South Carolina's congressional map, a decision influenced by pressure from Trump. Meanwhile, Charleston Mayor William Cogswell and Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie have voiced their concerns about the rushed redistricting effort. Additionally, the South Carolina House is considering a proposal to decouple the congressional primary election from other races, pushing it back to August, with the estimated cost of this change at $2.5 million.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 06:15 UTC)

President Trump is actively involved in redistricting efforts as Republican Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed new voting districts into law in Florida, which are now facing a court challenge for violating the state's ban on partisan gerrymandering. In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster has called lawmakers back for a special session aimed at eliminating the state's only majority-Black district, with the primary election scheduled for June 9 and early voting set to begin in less than two weeks. Meanwhile, more than 9,000 absentee ballots have already been sent out to military and overseas voters in South Carolina as the legislature considers decoupling the congressional primary election from other races to allow more time for redistricting.