Disputed Lowcountry congressional map will be used in 2024 election: Federal court

LOWCOUNTRY, S.C. (WCIV) — A federal court has determined the current map for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District will be used in the 2024 election.

The United States District Court for South Carolina ruled in favor of using the current map on March 28.

“South Carolina lawmakers continue to be shameless in their pursuit of power at all cost,” said Allen Chaney, legal director for the ACLU of South Carolina. “Rather than accepting demographic changes along the coast, they manipulated district boundaries to thwart the will of voters. Rather than accepting the unanimous ruling that their map was illegal, they manipulated the appellate process to wring out an extra election on unconstitutional maps. I hope voters are paying attention.”

Read more: Attorneys urge Supreme Court to reject use of disputed map for South Carolina elections

The map, which took effect in 2022, moved 30,000 Black Charleston residents out of Rep. Nancy Mace's district.

The following year, federal judges Mary Geiger Lewis, Toby J. Heytens, and Richard M. Gergel ruled unanimously that the South Carolina General Assembly racially gerrymandered the district. State legislators appealed the decision to the United States Supreme Court.

With a Supreme Court decision on the congressional map still pending, the same three judges ruled the current map must be used in 2024 to ensure the proper election procedures are in place.

“A second election under an infirm map is justice delayed when plaintiffs have made every effort to get a decision and remedy before another election under a map that denies them their rights,” said Leah Aden, senior counsel for the Legal Defense Fund, who argued the case before the Supreme Court. “As with any civil rights struggle, we will be unrelenting in our fight for our constitutional rights.”

Although the judges acknowledged it would be unusual to use a map they previously ruled was unconstitutional, they stated it is currently impractical to adopt a remedial plan for the district because of the election schedule. They noted the deadline for military and overseas absentee ballots is April 27 and the party primaries are scheduled for June 11.

Read more: US Supreme Court weighs in on potential racial gerrymandering in South Carolina's redistricting

"With the primary procedures rapidly approaching, the appeal before the Supreme Court still pending, and no remedial plan in place, the ideal must bend to the practical," the court wrote.

This is the second time a map deemed unconstitutional by a lower court is used in congressional elections.

Mace narrowly defeated Democrat Joe Cunningham, 50.6% to 49.3%, under the previous map in 2020, but defeated Democrat Annie Andrews in 2022 by a wider margin, 56.4% to 42.5%, under the current map.

Congressional candidates react to federal court decision

Democrat challenger for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Michael B. Moore, said he understands and respects the rule of law. Moore also said that regardless of the congressional map, he is running a campaign that aims to appeal to all voters.

"I intend to honor the court's ruling and will continue to work hard to earn the support of voters throughout the Lowcountry," Moore said in a statement. "Regardless of the congressional map, this race is all about connecting with folks in South Carolina's coastal communities – and offering them an honest, commonsense alternative to Nancy Mace's attention-seeking antics and political extremism."

Moore added: "We have a plan to win in November, no matter the playing field, and we're more confident than ever about our footing in the fight for SC-01."

Mac Deford, another Democrat challenger, viewed the court's decision as regrettable, yet anticipated due to the Supreme Court's delay in providing a definitive ruling.

As for his campaign, he said it isn't a deterrent.

"We've devised our strategy around the existing map, ready to adjust if necessary, but fully committed to turning the 1st congressional district in our favor," Deford said in a statement. "... This is the only congressional district in South Carolina that rejected Donald Trump. I've been fortunate to gain widespread support across political divides, even securing contributions from those who previously supported Nancy Mace.

"Ultimately, the people of the Lowcountry want a representative who will serve them with integrity."

Mace's campaign viewed the decision as a common-sense one.

"We are glad to see that the judges decided not to throw the state into chaos shortly before the election," Mace said.

News 4 reached out to Republican Catherine Templeton for comment and is awaiting a response.