South Carolina Republicans press toward House vote on congressional redistricting plan

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republicans in the South Carolina House cast aside Democratic suggestions and objections Tuesday as they worked toward a key vote on a congressional redistricting plan that could give the GOP a shot at winning an additional seat in the November midterm elections.

The redistricting plan, urged on by President Donald Trump, would reshape the state's only Democratic-held U.S. House district to Republicans' advantage as part of a broader national effort to retain the party's slim House majority in the midterms.

To buy time for the newly proposed map to be implemented, the South Carolina legislation would remove U.S. House races from the state's June 9 primaries and instead set a special primary election in August to select candidates for the state's seven seats. Some absentee and overseas military votes that already have been cast for Congress would be tossed out.

Democrats objected repeatedly during Tuesday's debate. And Republicans repeatedly rejected their amendments.

“What you all are doing is wrong,” said Democratic state Rep. JA Moore, adding: “You can justify it, rationalize it, but it’s wrong.”

Other Southern states have pursued a similar approach as they race to redraw U.S. House districts following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a majority-Black district in Louisiana as an illegal racial gerrymander and significantly weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minority districts.

Louisiana’s congressional primaries, scheduled for last Saturday, were postponed until later this summer by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to allow time for new districts to be drawn.

Primary election ballots were being cast Tuesday in Alabama. But the state plans to void the results in four of the seven U.S. House districts and instead hold special primaries Aug. 11 for those districts under different boundaries. The revised districts could help Republicans win an additional seat in November.

All told, Republicans think they could win as many as 15 additional seats from revised US. House districts in seven states so far, while Democrats think they could gain up to six seats from new House districts in two states. That tally could change, though, as litigation continues in several states. Voters ultimately will decide whether those projections hold up.

The ramifications could extend beyond government and politics.

The NAACP on Tuesday called on Black athletes and fans to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in states that “have moved to limit, weaken or erase Black voting representation.” The campaign specifically calls out Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas — though new voting districts have not yet been enacted in all of those places.

In South Carolina, Democratic state House members debated the proposed changes for hours on Monday. That led the Republican-controlled chamber to change the rules for Tuesday by limiting members to only one amendment and setting time limits for speeches.

Democratic state Rep. Beth Bernstein asked lawmakers to approve a voter education effort, since elections would look so different in 2026. She expressed concerns that some voters may stay away from the polls. But her amendment was rejected.

“When confusion becomes a barrier, a barrier becomes silence, and silence becomes a vote that was never cast,” Bernstein said.

Democratic Rep. Lonnie Hosey proposed a ban on drawing districts only to help one party. But his amendment also was swiftly defeated by Republicans.

“I love you and I believe you love me. But sometimes that doesn’t show,” said Hosey, who has served in the House for 27 years.

Republican lawmakers face some looming deadlines. Early voting is to start May 26 for the June 9 primaries.

Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri.

Democratic South Carolina Rep. Leon Howard speaks during the House redistricting debate on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Republican South Carolina Rep. Micah Caskey reads a resolution limiting debate during the House session on redistricting on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Democratic South Carolina Rep. John King asks a question during the House redistricting debate on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

A sign sits on the desk of Democratic South Carolina Rep. Annie McDaniel during the House redistricting debate on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Democratic South Carolina Rep. Kambrell Garvin presents his version of a map for new congressional districts during the House session on redistricting on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The numbers deserve a deeper look: 41 points, 24 rebounds, three blocked shots.

Take a bow, Victor Wembanyama. That's a conference finals debut like none other in the NBA's 80-year history.

The San Antonio star did everything — and a whole lot of it — in the Spurs' 122-115 double-overtime Game 1 victory over Oklahoma City to open the Western Conference finals on Monday night. He dunked, he flexed, he screamed, he posed for teammates.

Of course, all he cared about was that the Spurs won.

“The relentlessness is built as well,” Wembanyama said. “First of all, the first thing is physical ability, getting stronger as the years go on. And the mental toughness, you have to have it all the time. Yes, it takes a toll, but we will rest in July.”

Note that phrase — “we will rest in July.” It's May. If the Spurs play in June, it'll be in the NBA Finals. That's clearly the hope and if you listen to Wembanyama, it's clearly his plan as well.

“He has a rare desire to step into every moment that’s in front of him,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “And I think he has showed in his three years, in a lot of different situations, with a lot of different circumstances, that he’s going to attack those moments. Doesn’t mean they’ll always work out for him or be exactly the outcome that he wants, but he has some rare God-given ability. He puts in even more work and preparation into maximizing that and his disposition and mentality and approach is reflected at times in the way he handles those moments.”

Poor Dylan Harper. All the Spurs guard did in Game 1 — as a rookie — was have 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals. He joined Magic Johnson as the only rookies with 15 points, five assists and five steals in a conference finals game.

That's a monster night. And Wemby overshadowed that as only a 7-foot-4 man can.

A look inside the night that was for Wembanyama:

At 22, he's the youngest to do that in NBA playoff history, seven months younger than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was when he had a 46-point, 25-rebound game in 1970.

He's the second-youngest to have such a game in the NBA, including regular season. Bob McAdoo had a 45-point, 25-rebound game as a 21-year-old in 1973.

The big games just come with more regularity now for Wembanyama. He now has 10 games of 40 or more points in his career. Of those, five were in his first 2 1/2 seasons — and the last five have come in the last three months.

The 24 rebounds topped his previous career-best of 23 rebounds, done on his 21st birthday — Jan, 4. 2025, against Denver. Since that was in the regular season, it'll still be generally considered his “career-high” and the playoff one will stand on its own.

The 12 free throws made (he was 12 for 13) matched his second-most makes from the line in any game as a pro. He had 16 in a loss to Denver last month. The 12-of-13 effort was one of his best from the line during his NBA career; he was 12-for-12 against Phoenix in March and 16-for-17 in that game against the Nuggets in April.

“He's one of a kind.” — Harper, on Wembanyama.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, left, and center Chet Holmgren (7) during double overtime of Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts during the second overtime of Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama leaves the court after winning Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates with teammates during the second overtime of Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates with teammates after winning Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)