Republicans Advance New Congressional Maps in Four States Ahead of Midterms

State legislatures in Tennessee and Alabama have enacted new congressional district maps. Louisiana and South Carolina have cleared at least one chamber with similar proposals. S. Supreme Court decision that weakened minority protections under the Voting Rights Act. President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to redraw districts outside the usual post-census cycle.

Carolina, Republican Gov.

Henry McMaster called lawmakers into special session. The Republican-led House passed a plan early Wednesday that would improve the party’s chances of winning the state’s only Democratic-held seat. Senators met for the third straight day on Saturday to consider the plan and scheduled a possible final vote for Tuesday. Early primary voting begins the same day.

Since Trump first urged Texas to redraw its voting districts last year, Republicans estimate they could gain as many as 15 additional seats across seven states. Democrats have proposed new districts in two states that could yield six seats. Voting districts are normally redrawn after each census at the start of a decade.

The current efforts aim to apply the new maps in the November midterm elections.