At best we’ll gain a single seat in SC (it’s already 5R-1D), but the big problem is that given the demographics, in a bad GOP year, the Dems could grab at least 3 or 4 of those 7 House seats SC will have after 2013 (we almost dropped to 3 in 2008 as it was). By giving the Democrats 2 Black plurality/majority districts, we could ensure we will easily hold the remaining 5 without challenge.
Democrats are NEVER happy.
The ‘Rats seem divided about this. The state House voted 83-to-25 in support, which means a number of ‘Rats supported it. The state Senate voted 37-to-1 for the new lines. Maybe the lawsuit won’t happen.
Now, where have I heard that before? : )
Drawing two black-majority CDs in SC not only will guarantee us a 5-2 majority for the next 10 years, it would force whichever body (be it legislative or judicial) that draws the lines after the 2020 Census to draw two black-majority CDs or else violate the anti-retrogression requirement of the Voting Rights Act, so it pretty much guarantees a 5-2 GOP majority for *20* years.
The dims aren’t worried about electing minorities, they are worried about electing Democrats. SC has begun to display a capacity to vote for minority candidates who run as conservatives. The dims can’t stand that. They would much rather see a white Republican than a black Republican.