Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., stated Wednesday that South Carolina should consider launching its own redistricting initiative following Virginia voters’ approval of a Democratic-backed congressional map.
In a post on X, Graham said that after “the Virginia Democrats’ efforts to redistrict in order to increase Democrat seats in the House of Representatives,” South Carolina must “fight fire with fire.” He urged South Carolina’s next Republican governor and GOP-controlled legislature to “seriously look at” how the state should respond.
On Tuesday, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment supported by Democrats that allows for a temporary bypass of the state’s redistricting commission and enables new congressional maps. The plan could expand Democrats’ current 6-5 lead in the state House delegation to as much as 10-1.
President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, labeling the Virginia results “rigged” without providing evidence. He claimed Republicans were “winning” throughout the day before a “massive ‘Mail In Ballot Drop’” shifted the outcome and described it as a “crooked victory,” suggesting it was inconsistent with broader electoral patterns.
A Virginia judge blocked the state from certifying the referendum results on Wednesday, ruling both the referendum and the enabling legislation unconstitutional. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced that the state would appeal the decision.
