Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) warned Republicans their gerrymandering gambit might end up backfiring as he appeared on CNN to talk redistricting on Sunday.
Describing the “gerrymandering wars” currently raging across the nation, “State of the Union” anchor Jake Tapper explained how Democrats “decided to fight fire with fire” in response to Texas Republicans’ move to redraw its congressional map early and give themselves an edge in House races this November.
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While California voters approved a plan to net Democrats an expected five seats, a new map in Virginia remains in limbo after being struck down by the state’s supreme court and now remains in legal limbo. Overall, Republicans have redrawn maps in six states, giving them a likely eight seat advantage in House elections.
Asked if the map melee means the GOP is likely to maintain a House majority come election day, Clyburn told Tapper his political rivals shouldn’t bank on anything.
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“Well, they might and they might not, because I do believe that the voters in this country are watching very closely, and they are feeling, emotionally, what the threat is to our future,” said Clyburn, whose own office could be in jeopardy if South Carolina Republicans are able to slice up his district, the only Democratic House seat in his state. “And I do not believe that the majority of the voters in this country condone and will agree with what President Trump is doing.”
“South Carolina, our delegation, our House, talked with him, before yesterday, but the Supreme Court two years ago spoke to this district and said it was unconstitutional. But the president says he wants them to redraw the lines anyway!”
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Saying he believes the gerrymandering schemes could actually dilute Republican strongholds as well, Clyburn told Tapper, “All I’m going to say to that is be very careful what you pray for.”
“Because what I do believe is that when they finish with the redistricting, there will be the possibilities of at least three Democrats getting elected here in South Carolina to the United States Congress,” he went on.
Scrutiny of the national gerrymandering clash reached new levels this week after Republican lawmakers in Tennessee held a special session to carve up a majority-Black district in Memphis, the state’s lone Democratic stronghold.
The decision has been denounced as a way to disenfranchise Black voters, with activists and state Democrats describing it as a modern form of “Jim Crow” legislation.
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