COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a landmark decision Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Republicans did not discriminate against Black voters when redrawing the First Congressional District along South Carolina's coast.
The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision, split along ideological lines, could have significant implications for future redistricting efforts nationwide.
Brenda Murphy, president of the South Carolina NAACP, reacted to the decision, expressing disappointment.
"Today, the Supreme Court has failed the American people," Murphy said. "Voting rights have taken another gut punch, and the future of democracy in South Carolina is dangling by a thread."
The conservative majority determined that civil rights groups did not provide enough evidence to prove that race was a primary factor in the redrawing of South Carolina’s congressional map.
The case revolved around the Charleston-area district represented by Republican Nancy Mace. Civil rights groups argued that more than 30,000 Black voters were removed from this district, making it harder for Democrats to compete and easier for Republicans to win.
"No one has ever defended South Carolina's redistricting plan as a fair map. Every single person, including the defendants in court today, agreed that the legislature cheated voters out of a fair map, artificially entrenching Republican influence in the First Congressional District," said Allen Chaney.
The decision comes months after a lower court ruled that lawmakers violated the Constitution by discriminating against Black voters.
The Supreme Court's ruling affirms the argument made by Republican state officials, who say that their goal was solely to bolster Republican strength in the district.
“We took a lot of effort and spent a lot of time to make sure that we did the redistricting process the right way,” said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey (R-Edgefield). “So we felt confident that we were going to prevail, and we did and what the court said is exactly the process that we followed. We followed the rules that given us and that's hopefully that's why they ruled the way they did. So I feel good about that.”
Litigation on separate claims against the map could continue.
"Make no mistake, though. We are not backing down from this fight," Murphy said.
The map will be used in the upcoming primary election.