States Weigh Redistricting Moves Amid Redrawing Pressure

Lawmakers in Maryland and South Carolina separately considered actions related to congressional redistricting, according to reports published between April and August 2026. In South Carolina, legislative debate emerged after a Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering prompted discussion about redrawing the state's congressional map, with some reports indicating President Trump had pushed lawmakers to pursue a seventh Republican-held seat. South Carolina's governor said the decision on whether to proceed rested with the legislature, and the General Assembly held extended debate on the matter as its session wound down. During the same period, South Carolina House lawmakers considered an end-of-session resolution that would allow the General Assembly to reconvene later in the year specifically to redraw congressional district lines. Separately, lawmakers also advanced a proposal to raise their own legislative pay for the first time in decades, though this measure was reported as unrelated to the redistricting discussion. In Maryland, an Associated Press report indicates lawmakers were expected to consider steps toward partisan redistricting aimed at the 2028 election cycle, though specific details of the proposal, sponsors, or timeline were not included in available reporting. As of the most recent reporting, it remains unresolved whether South Carolina's General Assembly formally reconvened to redraw its congressional map, and no final outcome of that resolution has been confirmed across sources. Similarly, the specific legislative steps, timeline, and current status of Maryland's redistricting consideration are not detailed in the available reporting. The extent of direct involvement by President Trump in South Carolina's redistricting push, beyond the reported pressure to seek an additional seat, has not been independently corroborated by multiple sources.