For a few weeks, there was genuine concern among Republicans that infighting over whether to anchor the state's new 7th CD in Beaufort or Myrtle Beach would throw the issue to courts and leave the GOP's advantage in doubt. But on the first day of August, GOP Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law a new Congressional map creating a new Myrtle Beach-based 7th CD and shoring up the rest of the GOP delegation. Myrtle Beach area state Rep. Thad Viers is the first out of the gate for the fairly safe new 7th CD and has pledged to "out-conservative" all potential comers. But there will likely be more candidates.
Democrats, led by state chair Dick Harpootlian, express some hope of building a legal case to throw out the map based on its "packing" of African-Americans into just one district. But Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn's (the occupant of that district) support for keeping just one African-American majority undercuts Democrats argument, and this week, the Democratic-appointed Justice Department signed off on the Republican map.
The new map can be found here.
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