A group of South Carolina Senate Republicans joined Democrats on Tuesday to defeat a key procedural vote, effectively killing a controversial congressional redistricting plan ahead of the 2026 elections.

The proposal, which had already passed the GOP-controlled House in mid-May, sought to redraw the state’s seven U.S. House districts to create a map favoring Republican candidates in all seven seats.

The primary target was the 6th District, the state’s lone reliably Democratic seat held by longtime Congressman Jim Clyburn.

The effort was driven by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that changed how the Voting Rights Act applies to race-based districting.

In response, several Southern Republican-led states have moved to dismantle majority-Black districts drawn under previous interpretations.

Despite the House’s approval — which also included shifting the June 9 primary date — the plan stalled in the Senate.

On May 12, a procedural vote to allow redistricting after the regular session failed 29-17.

On Tuesday, a cloture motion to limit debate and advance the bill failed 20-24, with twelve Republicans voting against it alongside Democrats.

Notable GOP defectors included Senators Sean Bennett, Chip Campsen, Tom Davis, Greg Hembree, Shane Massey, and Jeff Zell, who cited concerns over timing and process.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, one of the opponents, addressed the chamber directly: “There are likely consequences for me, personally, taking the position that I am right now. I’m comfortable with that.”

Tuesday’s vote locks in South Carolina’s current congressional map for the 2026 cycle, preserving Clyburn’s district in its present form.

The outcome comes as early voting for the state’s primaries began on the same day.

The failure highlights internal Republican divisions in the Senate over the aggressive redistricting strategy and its timing so close to the election calendar.