Commentary: Big Tent Ideas

Republicans Have Chance To End Racist Redistricting For Good, And South Carolinians Are Watching

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As lieutenant governor of South Carolina, I travel across our state every week and hear the same message from voters: they want Republicans to fight with the same urgency and determination President Donald Trump has shown since day one.

They are tired of watching Democrats weaponize the courts and use identity politics to protect safe seats and silence conservative voters. South Carolinians want congressional maps that reflect the values and political reality of our state, not backroom political games designed to preserve Democrat power.

The recent Supreme Court decision made clear that race cannot be the driving factor in redistricting. President Trump has rightly called on Republican-led states to stop playing defense and draw constitutional maps that reflect the will of their voters instead of the demands of the Left.

South Carolina has no excuse to wait. In light of the State Senate’s failure to advance the redistricting efforts, we must act quickly and the General Assembly must get back to work, using any means necessary to redraw our congressional maps and strengthen conservative representation across South Carolina.

Our current 6-1 Republican advantage underscores that South Carolina is a deeply conservative state, and with fair new maps, it will only grow stronger. We can no longer tolerate a permanent Democrat safe seat in the 6th District, one deliberately insulated from competition through racial gerrymandering that weakens conservative voices in surrounding communities and distorts representation across our state.

Let’s be clear, Democrats desperate to hold on to this seat are lying when they claim any fair redraw will produce anything less than a 7-0 Republican majority. It’s very simple: the time has come to end this distortion of our state’s clear political will and deliver maps that fully reflect the values of South Carolina voters.

This fight extends far beyond South Carolina. With razor-thin margins in Congress, every seat matters.

If Republicans are serious about helping President Trump secure the border, unleash American energy, cut taxes, restore common sense, and continue putting America First, then we need a stronger conservative majority in Washington. Republican-led states cannot afford to leave winnable ground on the table while Democrats aggressively use every lever of power to protect their political machine.

Governor McMaster and I have stood by President Trump and his agenda since Day One and join him in this fight. I have worked closely with legislative leaders and lawmakers in Columbia to make one thing clear: the time for delays and excuses is over. South Carolinians expect bold leadership, decisive action, and results.

States like Florida and Texas have shown what strong Republican leadership looks like by moving aggressively to defend fair representation and push back against the Left’s political games. South Carolina should lead with the same confidence and determination.

South Carolinians have spoken and the South Carolina General Assembly must answer that call. The path is clear. The voters have spoken. The State Legislature must get the job done.

Lt. Governor Pamela Evette is the 93rd Lt. Governor of South Carolina and the first female Republican Lt. Governor in state history. She was elected with Gov. Henry McMaster in 2018 and has worked alongside him to usher in the most conservative era in South Carolina history. She is currently a candidate for Governor.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.