In late November, Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina engaged in discussions with senior officials from the White House regarding the topic of congressional redistricting. This dialogue took place despite earlier assertions from McMaster and other leading Republicans in South Carolina that they had no intentions of addressing the issue.

A representative for Governor McMaster confirmed the meeting on November 24, stating that the White House is informed about the governor’s position on redistricting. However, further details about the meeting remain undisclosed, as McMaster’s office has refrained from releasing any agenda or notes pertaining to the discussions.

This development emerges as national attention increasingly focuses on states to reevaluate their congressional maps, a move driven by the tightening partisan balance in Congress as the November 2026 elections approach. Nevertheless, South Carolina has consistently shown reluctance to partake in this trend. Governor McMaster reiterated this stance in a recent statement.

“I believe we have fulfilled our responsibilities,” McMaster expressed to reporters, referring to the current delineation of the state’s congressional districts.

Historical Context of Redistricting

Currently, South Carolina sends six Republicans and one Democrat to Congress. The lone Democratic seat, held by long-time Rep. Jim Clyburn, is heavily concentrated with Black voters in the 6th Congressional District. 

The state’s map has survived legal challenges.

In September, South Carolina won a lawsuit brought on by the League of Women Voters and the ACLU of South Carolina, keeping the current lines from the 2020 Census intact. 

National pressure over redistricting has continued to rise, and President Donald Trump has openly weighed in. He has publicly urged several states, including North Carolina and Indiana, to reconsider their congressional maps in an effort to bolster Republican control of the House and Senate in November.

McMaster, who has a longstanding relationship with the president and serves as chairman of Trump’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, has publicly taken a different position on the state. 

What could these maps look like?

Theoretically, mapmakers could attempt a 7-0 GOP delegation, but doing so would not be straightforward. The undertaking would likely require changing at least one district into a swing seat, making a previously safe Republican district more competitive, posing an electoral risk.

A more competitive scenario could produce a 5-2 Republican majority. Democratic voters concentrated in the 6th District would be redistributed into neighboring districts, potentially turning a reliably Republican seat into a swing district.

An even more dramatic redraw could create a 4-3 Republican majority by unpacking heavily concentrated Democratic and Black voters across multiple districts. This map would significantly alter South Carolina’s political landscape and directly impact Clyburn’s seat.

There is one map that would preserve the status quo: six Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic seat. The approach has been supported by McMaster and Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey (R-Edgefield).

“I’m not opposed to having more Republicans, but I am opposed to having fewer,” Massey told 7NEWS last week. “If we play with this too much, you can very well end up with that.”

Additionally, reporters asked House Speaker Murrell Smith (R-Sumter) last week whether the legislature might revisit the map. He said only that lawmakers will continue monitoring the issue. 

“There’s been discussions with the governor and the Senate leaders, and we’re trying to work our way through the process,” Smith said. “Let me just say there’s processes in play and we can discuss that in January.”

White House Discussion

State leaders have been pretty vague when reporters have asked about any talks with the White House on redistricting.

“No,” said Speaker Smith when asked if he’d discussed it with federal officials last week.

Senate Majority Leader Massey said he had not talked to the president.

“We do have conversations fairly regularly with folks from the White House, so we talk about issues here and there… I think they’ve been focusing more on other states on this particular issue.”

I reached out to Massey and Smith Friday morning to ask whether they were aware of the governor’s meeting with federal officials. A spokesperson for Massey said he did not wish to comment further, while a spokesperson for Smith said the speaker was traveling and unavailable for comment at this time.

While it was confirmed that the governor did meet with federal officials to discuss redistricting, what else was discussed and why remains unclear.

McMaster’s public calendar confirmed he met with federal officials at 1 p.m. on Nov. 24. He has since not mentioned any idea of whether he plans to urge the legislature to take up bills to redraw the map.

Ultimately, the decision rests in the hands of lawmakers and whether they will take up a bill to redraw. No bills have been pre-filed to do so as of Friday.