South Carolina Redistricting with Republicans in Control

I finally decided to create a map that is realistic. Since Republicans seem to be in control of South Carolina, I think they will aim for a map like this one. It is 5-2 Republican even though some of the Republicans should have shaky holds on their districts. I decided to think like a Republican would to draw this map. My main objectives were to strengthen Republicans Henry Brown and Joe Wilson while creating a new Republican district. I also strengthened John Spratt because it is almost impossible to weaken him enough to beat him while protecting the other Republicans. Anyway, Spratt is heavily entrenched. Also, I want to say thanks to Dave of Dave’s Redistricting App for enhancing the feature. Now here are the maps.

Southern South Carolina

Up Country

Eastern South Carolina

Charleston Area

District 1 Henry Brown (R) Blue

The Republicans biggest worry should be that Brown has not been strengthened enough by redistricting. Yes, he does have most of Charleston County but the parts he has are mostly Republican. I did not alter the old district boundaries there much. Also, he has Republican Horry County to offset Democratic margins. I am not sure if I strengthened Brown enough. McCain probably won 55%-57% of the vote here. The racial stats are 17% African American and 75% White. Status is Likely Republican.

District 2 Joe Wilson (R) Green

Wilson also had a surprisingly competitive race even though he won by 10 points. I helped shore him up and reduced the African American percentage of the population by three points. I removed most of the Democratic rural counties and the parts I included were only to connect the coastline to Aiken and Lexington Counties. I strengthened Wilson even more by putting in Republican parts of Berkeley and Dorchester Counties. McCain probably won 56% of the vote here. Racial stats are 23% African American, 5% Hispanic and 68% White. Status is Likely Republican if Democrats want to challenge this district.

District 3 Gresham Barrett (R) Purple

There is not much difference here. Barrett is pretty safe with heavy Republican margins from Oconee and Pickens Counties. Even with McCormick County which leans Democratic, Barrett has no worries. I even reduced the African American population by two points. McCain probably won 64%-65% of the vote here. Racial stats are 18% African American and 76% White. Status is Safe Republican.

District 4 Bob Inglis (R) Red

I did not alter this district much either. Inglis is pretty safe without any worries. The only changes I made were removing Union County and part of Spartanburg County, mostly for population purposes. McCain still probably won about 60% of the vote here. Racial stats are 18% African American, 6% Hispanic and 71% White. Status is Safe Republican.

District 5 No Incumbent (R) Yellow

This is the new district I created for the Republicans. It basically contains Republican areas in the Up Country, Conservative Lexington County and some white parts of Richland County. I slipped in part of Chester County which Obama barely carried but this should still be Republican. I do not know who the new Republican congressman might be here. I found the names Jeff Duncan and Mac Toole, Republican members of the South Carolina State House whose districts contain part of the 5th. I have no idea if they are potential candidates or not. It would be great if someone who knows South Carolina better could elaborate on it. McCain probably won 62% of the vote here. Racial stats are 21% African American and 71% White. Status is Safe Republican.

District 6 James Clyburn (D) Teal

Since Clyburn is pretty safe, I left him alone pretty much. All I did was remove some northeastern precincts to strengthen John Spratt. All I can really say about this district is that it is still African American majority and Republicans have no shot at winning it. Obama probably won 67% of the vote here. Racial stats are 57% African American and 37% White. Status is Safe Democrat.

District 7 John Spratt (D) Gray

Since the Republicans would be pushing all the Republican areas into other districts, they had to leave behind some Democratic areas and many of them went here. Spratt is strengthened by the removal of most of York County and the inclusion of some African American precincts from the old 6th district. This increases the African American population from 32% to 39%. The changes do not matter much because Spratt is pretty safe. They do help elect a Democrat when he retires. Obama probably won 53% of the vote here. Racial stats are 39% African American and 56% White. Status is Safe Democrat.

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