Supreme Court Supports GOP's New South Carolina Congressional Map

Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court Decision

The Supreme Court of the United States, on May 23, ruled in favor of the newly redrawn congressional map of South Carolina, overturning a decision made by a lower court. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had previously challenged the map, arguing that the legislators who drew the district lines were racially motivated, resulting in "intentional racial discrimination."

Allegations of Racial Predominance

According to a report from The Epoch Times by Zachary Stieber, a panel of federal judges in 2023 stated that "race predominated over all other factors" when the First Congressional District of South Carolina, currently represented by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), was redrawn. This conclusion was partly based on the relocation of over 30,000 black voters to a different district. For plaintiffs challenging a new map to prove that race was the primary factor motivating the legislators who redrew the districts, they must show that the state prioritized race over other factors such as contiguity, as per court precedent.

Supreme Court Majority Opinion

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, stated that the judges who made the earlier ruling "clearly erred" as the challengers did not provide such proof. He wrote, "The challengers provided no direct evidence of a racial gerrymander, and their circumstantial evidence is very weak. Instead, the challengers relied on deeply flawed expert reports." Justice Alito, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, was joined by Justice John Roberts, another Bush appointee, and Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, all appointees of former President Donald Trump. Justice Thomas, another Bush appointee, partly concurred with the opinion.

Dissenting Opinions

Justice Elena Kagan, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, filed a dissent. She was joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, another Obama appointee, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, an appointee of President Joe Biden. The panel that made the 2023 ruling consisted of U.S. District Judges Mary Geiger Lewis and Richard Gergel, both Obama appointees; and U.S. Circuit Judge Toby Heytens, a Biden appointee.

New Map Enacted in 2022

The new map, which was created after receiving data from the 2020 census, was enacted in 2022. South Carolina's Governor, Henry McMaster, a Republican who signed the updated map, expressed his support for the Supreme Court's decision.

Reactions and Implications

The decision has been met with mixed reactions. Brenda Murphy, president of the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, expressed disappointment, stating that the Supreme Court has failed the American people and that the future of democracy in South Carolina is hanging by a thread. The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, which includes over half of the state's coast and parts of Charleston, has a population of about 762,000. The district has been a Republican stronghold since the 1980s, with the exception of a brief period from 2018 to 2020 when it was represented by former Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.).

Looking Forward

The Supreme Court's decision has sparked a conversation about the role of race in redistricting and its impact on the democratic process. The White House expressed concern, stating that the decision undermines the principle that voting practices should not discriminate based on race. This article raises important questions about the intersection of race, politics, and the democratic process. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this article with your friends and join the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.