SC Dems object to GOP redistricting plan

South Carolina Republicans are scared to run in competitive districts and if you don’t believe me, just look at the redistricting map drawn by the Republican senate staff.

The redistricting committee held limited public hearings around the state, took testimony, and produced a map that completely disregarded everything citizens requested, such as keeping cities, counties, and communities of interest together.

In fact, they violated the guidelines set by their own committee and potentially denied members a final opportunity to review the map.

The redistricting process is vitally important, and, as a South Carolinian, I am asking you to join me in Room 308 in the Gressette Building on the State House grounds at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12 and give testimony on the Republican senate staff plan.

These maps will determine our representation in the state senate for the next ten years, until we do this again in 2031.

If you live in the city of Charleston, just across the Ravenel Bridge, you will pass through three different senate districts on a drive from your house to the Battery, less than four miles away.

And if you live on the Battery, you are in the same senate district as Beaufort, but not the same district as the College of Charleston, which is within walking distance, just a mile and a half from you.

There is no reason for Charleston to be split into three senate districts … and why does one of those districts include Beaufort?

Why are the voters in Beaufort represented by someone who lives on the Isle of Palms? These are the questions that must be answered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Don’t forget Mt. Pleasant, which is also split into three districts.

Their state senators live in Goose Creek and the northern portion of Berkeley County, and a third senator, who happens to represent voters all the way in Beaufort, 85 miles away, but not voters in the other Mt. Pleasant precincts.

The same can be said for James Island.

In Richland County voters are split into 6 districts even though the data shows us there should really be three fully contained districts in the county and 75% of a fourth district.

Like Charleston County, voters in Richland County are having their voices diluted by excessive county splits.

In the staff map, voters living in downtown Columbia will be represented by the same state senator as voters in St. Matthews, Calhoun County, and Swansea in Lexington County.

In the staff map, Spartanburg is split into three senate districts.

Only one of the three senators representing those residents actually lives in the city. One of the districts that includes the City of Spartanburg also has parts of Greenville County.

Another goes all the way to Union.

It is evident this map was drawn intentionally to avoid giving Spartanburg its own district.

Instead, three Republican senators reach in and grab parts of the city and sections of other counties. This is not fair representation for the South Carolinians who live in downtown Spartanburg.

It is clear that the Republican senate staff is unable to draw fair maps that represent all citizens of South Carolina.

These problems will not be resolved if concerned citizens like you and me don’t show up and have our voices heard on Friday.

Trav Robertson, Jr. is the Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party.