Trump Gets Redistricting Boost In South Carolina And Louisiana
Republican-led legislatures in Louisiana and South Carolina have this week progressed plans to redraw congressional boundaries in ways that could help the party win more House seats in the midterms.
The moves come as part of a wider push by GOP lawmakers, encouraged by President Donald Trump, to boost the party's chances of protecting and potentially expanding their control of Congress.
Why It Matters
The national redistricting fight, in which both Republicans and Democrats have sought to redraw state maps to shape future election outcomes, could help decide control of the U.S. House in 2026.
These efforts have escalated after a 6–3 U.S. Supreme Court decision in April in Louisiana v. Callais struck down Louisiana's congressional map last month and narrowed the grounds for challenging district lines under the Voting Rights Act.
Some Republican states have since moved to reshape maps to eliminate or dilute some majority-Black districts, raising concerns over minority representation.
South Carolina
South Carolina's Governor Henry McMaster called a special legislative session for Friday morning to consider a new congressional map that would reshape the state's majority-Black 6th District.
That seat is currently held by Rep. Jim Clyburn, the state's only Democrat in Congress. Republicans hold the state's other six congressional seats.
On Tuesday, the state Senate voted on a proposal to extend the legislative session to tackle redistricting, but it failed after five Republican senators joined Democrats in opposition.
State Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, a Republican, voted against the move, arguing it was already too late in the election cycle to redraw the map, with less than two weeks before early voting begins and candidates having already filed to run in districts that could be significantly changed.
He said in a speech on the floor that he believed “Republicans are stronger when the Democrat Party is vibrant and viable.”
The governor's decision to reconvene lawmakers comes after Trump posted on Truth Social calling on South Carolina Republicans to “BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS.”
Louisiana
Louisiana lawmakers, meanwhile, have separately advanced a congressional map that would eliminate one of the state's two majority-Black districts.
the state Senate voted 27-10 on Thursday to effectively restore Louisiana's 2022 congressional map, which predated the creation of a second majority-Black district following court challenges under the Voting Rights Act.
The new map would reshape the 6th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Democratic Representative Cleo Fields, and redraw it to include Republican-leaning areas.
Republican state Senator Jay Morris, who sponsored the proposal, said during the debate: “It is perfectly fine for us to redraw maps based upon politics. These maps are drawn to maximize Republican advantage for the incumbent Republicans that we have in Congress at the present time.”
Currently, Louisiana's House delegation is made up of four Republicans and two Democrats.
The push in Louisiana comes in the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the state's previous map and narrowed legal pathways for challenging racial gerrymanders under the Voting Rights Act.
Redistricting Battle
The moves in South Carolina and Louisiana are part of a wider national push by both parties to reshape congressional maps ahead of the midterms.
Similar Republican-led efforts are underway or being considered in states including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri.
Democrats, meanwhile, are also pursuing targeted redraws in states where they hold power.
Republicans currently hold a slim House majority, meaning control of the chamber could hinge on just a handful of districts in 2026.
What Happens Next
Both states still need legislative approval for the new congressional maps. The proposals may face legal challenges and tight deadlines as officials race to complete maps before key election filing and voting deadlines.
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 9:10 AM.