Wait—What Is Happening With the SC Redistricting Bill? – RedState
You wouldn’t be blamed for feeling a little confusion/whiplash, if you’re like me, and have been trying to keep up with the latest news on the social media superhighway regarding Republicans in the South Carolina State Legislature fighting to make changes to the state’s congressional districts. Especially on a Memorial Day weekend.
To catch everyone up, my sister town hall colleague, Matt Vespa, conveniently wrote this on Friday:
South Carolina Republicans are playing a dangerous game. They know Donald Trump can ruin their day. They saw what his team did to anti-redistricting Republicans in Indiana, right? Governor Henry McMaster called this special session to adopt this new map. We have procedural, panicked idiots trying to ruin the works. It doesn’t help that Shane Massey, the majority leader in the state Senate, opposes the initiative.
…
Regardless, the State House approved it, the South Carolina State Senate Judiciary Committee cleared it, and now it’s up to the Senate to pass it. He failed today in a vote on a key motion, in which their version of the 60-vote threshold, Section 15b on Closure, was rejected by these traitors.
South Carolina State Senate Rejects Vote to Accelerate Redistricting Fight
Final vote:
🟢 Yes: 15
🔴No.: 25GOP No vote:
🔴 Rex Rice (Pickens)
🔴Shane Massey (Edgefield)
🔴Sean Bennett (Dorchester)
🔴Chip Campsen (Charleston)
🔴Tom Davis (Beaufort)
🔴 Greg Hembree (Horrry) pic.twitter.com/RbVocxH5t0-OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) May 22, 2026
South Carolina State Senate Rejects Vote to Accelerate Redistricting Fight
Final vote:
🟢 Yes: 15
🔴No.: 25GOP No vote:
🔴 Rex Rice (Pickens)
🔴Shane Massey (Edgefield)
🔴Sean Bennett (Dorchester)
🔴Chip Campsen (Charleston)
🔴Tom Davis (Beaufort)
🔴 Greg Hembree (Horrry) pic.twitter.com/RbVocxH5t0-OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) May 22, 2026
Vespa noted that early voting in SC begins May 26, so there is a countdown to resolving this issue.
So in the air, on Saturday, questions will be asked of the people who monitor X… such as: have they adopted the bill? Did the Republicans win a district? What about Senate Majority Leader Massey, who seems determined to ruin the entire deal by opposing it?
Justin Evans of political consulting firm Big Dog Strategies wrote in an article Saturday that he was also hearing “a lot of noise” about the redistricting measures. His clarifying explanation is long, readers, but it’s simple and worth reading, I think:
Because there is a lot of noise about SC redistricting and what happened today, let me clarify.
Today’s vote was on the second reading, the consequential reading, where the real fight takes place. But this is not the finish line.
The bill still needs a third reading. After the procedure time… pic.twitter.com/pUCtWwYMtj
– Justin Evans (@SCJustinEvans) May 23, 2026
Because there is a lot of noise about SC redistricting and what happened today, let me clarify.
Today’s vote was on the second reading, the consequential reading, where the real fight takes place. But this is not the finish line.
The bill still needs a third reading. After the procedure time… pic.twitter.com/pUCtWwYMtj
– Justin Evans (@SCJustinEvans) May 23, 2026
He wrote:
Because there is a lot of noise about SC redistricting and what happened today, let me clarify.
Today’s vote was on the second reading, the consequential reading, where the real fight takes place. But this is not the finish line.
The bill still needs a third reading. After the procedural time allotted for speeches, amendments and debate (redistricting bills are treated differently depending on the rules), the Senate takes a final vote to give it a third reading. As long as it remains unchanged, it is then sent directly to the governor for signature. No return home.
The earliest the governor could receive it is Wednesday, assuming there are no procedural issues and assuming every pro-redistricting senator continues to show up and vote each day.
This last part matters more than anything. Presence is crucial. These votes are won and lost depending on who is present in the House. An empty seat, an amendment that forces him across the building, and the schedule slips.
We are close. Keep it clean. Keep introducing yourself.
Pass the bill.
Indeed, pass it! I read the content of this article as good news for Republicans. Certainly, things are better than they were just a day ago.
The next few days will tell us the story, and we will bring you updates as we learn more. Hold on, Palmetto State!
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