Senate approves new map for US House seats

The South Carolina Senate approved a new map for the state’s U.S. House seats on Thursday, making minimal changes to the current seven districts of which all but one reliably elect Republicans. Senators voted 26-15 vote for passage strictly along party lines. The vote likely shut the door on any significant changes to the districts, which Democrats and civic groups say unfairly amplifies Republican power and pulls apart communities to dilute minority strength into just one district. The loudest complaints about the new map came from those upset that Charleston and North Charleston continue to be in different districts. Opponents also said extra voters likely to choose Republicans were put into the coastal 1st District, which had a 38-year run of Republican U.S. representatives before the seat flipped in 2018 to a Democrat for one term.