In today's article we are going to delve into South Carolina's congressional districts, a topic that has sparked the interest of many people throughout history. It is a broad and diverse concept that covers different aspects, from its impact on society to its relevance on a personal level. South Carolina's congressional districts has been the object of study, debate and reflection, generating conflicting opinions and raising fundamental questions. Throughout this article we will explore the different approaches and perspectives that have emerged around South Carolina's congressional districts, with the aim of offering a complete and enriching vision of this very relevant topic. Join us on this tour of South Carolina's congressional districts and discover everything this fascinating topic has to offer!
There are currently seven United States congressional districts in South Carolina. There have been as few as four and as many as nine congressional districts in South Carolina. The 9th district and the 8th district were lost after the 1840 census. The 5th district and the 6th district were also briefly lost after the Civil War, but both had been regained by the 1880 census. Because of the state population growth in the 2010 census, South Carolina regained its 7th district, which had remained unused since the Civil War.
On January 6, 2023, a three-judge panel from the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina ruled that the current 1st district lines were unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering and would have to be redrawn April of that year. The case, Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, was argued on October 11, 2023, in the Supreme Court, and a ruling will be made during the 2023–24 term. On March 28, 2024, the same district court that ruled the current 1st district lines unconstitutional, allowed for its use in the 2024 elections. It concluded that it would be impractical to create a new district map at the current time, mainly due to the upcoming military and overseas ballot mailing deadline of April 27 and statewide primaries on June 11. However, it still found the 1st district to be in violation of the 14th amendment, and future litigation is possible after the 2024 elections.
List of members of the United States House delegation from South Carolina, their terms, their district boundaries, and the district political ratings according to the CPVI. The House delegation has 7 members, including 6 Republicans and 1 Democrat as of 2023.
Current U.S. representatives from South Carolina | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Member (Residence) |
Party | Incumbent since | CPVI (2022) |
District map |
1st | Nancy Mace (Charleston) |
Republican | January 3, 2021 | R+7 | |
2nd | Joe Wilson (Springdale) |
Republican | December 18, 2001 | R+8 | |
3rd | Jeff Duncan (Laurens) |
Republican | January 3, 2011 | R+21 | |
4th | William Timmons (Greenville) |
Republican | January 3, 2019 | R+12 | |
5th | Ralph Norman (Rock Hill) |
Republican | June 20, 2017 | R+12 | |
6th | Jim Clyburn (Columbia) |
Democratic | January 3, 1993 | D+14 | |
7th | Russell Fry (Murrells Inlet) |
Republican | January 3, 2023 | R+11 |
District contains the two major cities of Greenville and Spartanburg.
Table of United States congressional district boundary maps in the State of South Carolina, presented chronologically. All redistricting events that took place in South Carolina between 1973 and 2013 are shown.
Year | Statewide map | Charleston highlight |
---|---|---|
1973–1982 | ||
1983–1992 | ||
1993–2002 | ||
2003–2013 | ||
Since 2013 |
The eighth congressional district seat was eliminated after the 1840 census.
The ninth congressional district seat was eliminated after the 1840 census.