SC House advances congressional redistricting plan. What it means for York County
York County residents would be split into two U.S. House districts and Lancaster County would be cut out of the district currently represented by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman under a plan moving quickly through the South Carolina General Assembly.
The proposal, which passed the South Carolina House after midnight Wednesday morning, now heads to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain amid potential legal challenges, complaints about the rushed process and concerns from some York County Republicans about how the map could reshape the region’s political influence in Washington.
If approved, the proposal would divide York County between the 5th and 6th Congressional Districts while moving all of Lancaster County into the 6th District. The current congressional map places all of York and Lancaster counties within the 5th District.
The plan has already drawn criticism from some York County Republicans who argue splitting the county could dilute the area’s political power and separate communities with shared growth and infrastructure concerns. Even York County Republican Rep. Brandon Guffey, who ultimately voted for the proposal, previously said he believed the map could negatively impact the county.
Why is redistricting under discussion?
The Republican-backed proposal is part of a broader redistricting push unfolding in several states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. According to prior reporting from The State, President Donald Trump and White House staff asked South Carolina Republicans to consider redrawing congressional districts with the goal of creating seven Republican-leaning congressional seats and unseating U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the only Democratic member of the state’s federal delegation.
The congressional district Clyburn currently represents has the highest Black voting-age population out of the state’s seven districts. The increased pressure came after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, which had a second district intended to elect a Black representative.
The state House approved the proposal 74-37 after days of debate and dozens of failed amendments. Four Republicans voted against the measure, including York County Republican Rep. Heath Sessions, according to The State.
The proposal would also delay congressional primary elections from June to August while statewide, state House and local races would remain on the June ballot. According to The State, more than 11,000 absentee ballots for current congressional districts had already been sent out by the election commission, and more than 2,400 ballots returned as of Wednesday.
York County concerns
Several York County Republicans have raised concerns about dividing the county between two congressional districts, arguing the move could weaken the area’s collective voice on issues affecting the fast-growing region.
“York County is one interconnected community, with families, businesses and commuters who live, work and worship across Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Clover, Lake Wylie and surrounding areas,” Sessions said in a statement to the Observer. “When you carve York County into multiple congressional districts, you dilute that shared voice in Washington and make it harder for any member of Congress to truly be accountable to this community.”
Sessions said the proposal could weaken York County’s influence on issues including Interstate 77 traffic, infrastructure and economic development.
“Instead of one representative who has to pay close attention to York County’s needs, you end up with multiple representatives, each with only a slice of the county and competing priorities elsewhere,” he said. “That makes it easier for everyone in Washington to say ‘that’s someone else’s problem.’”
Guffey previously criticized the proposed split before ultimately voting in favor of the map.
“At the end of the day, we are elected to represent our area,” Guffey said in a Facebook video posted days before the House vote. “I feel like it will negatively impact York County and the influence that we have always had on a congressional level.”
But during House floor debate Tuesday night, Guffey said he changed his position after hearing from constituents and fellow lawmakers.
“Do I think this is best for York County? No. Do I think it’s best for my district, according to the emails I’ve gotten? Yes. So I have had a change of heart,” he said.
“This is a very polarized issue, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to do what we feel is best for our people,” he said.
The proposed map would separate parts of northern and eastern York County from the rest of the county by placing them in the 6th Congressional District alongside Lancaster County and several counties stretching across central and eastern South Carolina.
Mallory Dittmer, a Democratic candidate running for the 5th Congressional District seat, said the proposal could dilute the influence of fast-growing communities in York County while creating confusion among voters ahead of the election. Dittmer also in the only candidate who filed to run for Congress in the state who provided an address to the South Carolina Election Commission that is actually in the new proposed 6th District.
“I absolutely believe York County should stay within a single district,” Dittmer said in a statement. “York currently represents 40% of the 5th District and splitting the county, and especially Rock Hill and Fort Mill into two separate districts, needlessly dilutes the influence of these high-growth communities at the federal level.”
Dittmer also criticized the timing of the effort, saying it will lead to low turnout and voter apathy in the current election.
“Sadly, I suspect this is one of the primary intentions of this late redistricting effort, in addition to disenfranchising Black voters and attempting to oust Congressman Clyburn,” she said.
State Sen. Michael Johnson, a Fort Mill Republican, also raised concerns about splitting York County and removing Lancaster County from the current 5th Congressional District. In a May 8 Facebook post, Johnson said he was concerned the proposal would divide Fort Mill and York County between two congressional districts while separating Lancaster County from communities that share similar growth and infrastructure challenges.
“I have always viewed York and Lancaster as having similar demographics and shared concerns especially about growth and infrastructure,” Johnson wrote.
Johnson, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, also questioned whether the proposed map could ultimately weaken Republicans politically by making other districts more competitive.
“Our current districts give us a 6-1 split amongst Republicans and Democrats in Congress,” Johnson wrote. “I have grave concerns that this map will make that 5-2, and possibly 4-3 in the coming years.”
Johnson, however, voted in favor of going forward with a debate on redistricting.
The Senate began formally taking up the proposal Wednesday during a Judiciary Committee hearing that included public testimony on the map. After more than six hours of testimony, the committee in a 15-7 vote moved the map to floor for debate.
According to prior reporting from The State, senators were told to prepare to remain in session through the weekend as debate continues. If and when a new map is approved and signed into law, it is expected to face litigation. A lawsuit from the League of Women Voters of South Carolina and the ACLU of South Carolina challenging the House’s expedited rules process has already been tossed.
Norman, who is running for governor, praised the House vote and said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer he has supported redrawing the map for months.
“I called for redistricting soon after I announced my run for governor last year and I am glad to see the House finally pass this,” Norman said in a statement. “We need to redraw our maps to ensure every district is fair and our congressional seats remain competitive. This proposal should move our House delegation from 6-1 to 7-0. Now, it’s up to the Senate to finish the job.”
This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 11:58 AM with the headline "SC House advances congressional redistricting plan. What it means for York County."
