South Carolina's congressional map, including the new 7th District, has been approved by the Department of Justince.
COLUMBIA (WACH) -- South Carolina's congressional map, including the new 7th District, has been approved by the Department of Justice. You can read the DOJ approval letter here.
“This is great news for all the citizens of our state who will now have an even stronger presence in Congress with the addition of South Carolina’s new 7th Congressional District," SC House Speaker Bobby Harrell said in a release. "With this approval from the U.S. Department of Justice, South Carolina’s Congressional lines are now set and every South Carolinian will be guaranteed a voice in Washington."
South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian says a lawsuit will be filed within two weeks over the U.S. House district plans the Justice Department says it won't challenge.
He said the Justice Department uses outmoded thinking to support creating districts that are majority black. He points to support among white voters in South Carolina for President Barack Obama in the 2008 election and last year's election of U.S. Rep. Tim Scott as signs candidates' race no longer determines elections.
Gov. Nikki Haley signed the law Aug. 1 in Myrtle Beach. The new district is anchored in Horry County and stretches across the Pee Dee in the state's northeastern corner.
"We didn't have a whole lot of dust up when it came to redistricting," said Haley at the time. "We had some areas that wanted it more than others. I think in the end we are going to have a state that has great representation."
In addition to creating a new district, the changes impact all six current districts.
Any change to the state's election law must be cleared by the Justice Department under the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
This is the first time since the 1930's South Carolina will have a seventh Congressional seat in Washington D.C.
District lines are redrawn every decade to make sure they reflect population changes. South Carolina picked up a seventh seat in Congress because of population growth.
The seventh Congressional District lines will be used for the June 2012 elections.The district lines can be reviewed at the offices of the House and Senate judiciary committees or online by clicking here.
There are several candidates who are considering a run at the new district seat including Republicans Thad Viers, Alan Clemmons and former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.
Last month, Democrat Parnell Diggs, a former president of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, said he would enter the race. Democrat Ted Vick is also considering a run.
Do you think the congressional districts are fairly drawn? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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