South Carolina Republicans defy Trump again to reject rapid redistricting drive

Bid to remake maps before midterms and reduce Democratic voters in Jim Clyburn’s district fails in state senate

Republican lawmakers in South Carolina have defied Donald Trump and rejected a breakneck bid to redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of November’s US midterm elections.

In a 26-18 vote, state senators rejected mid-decade redistricting in a special session of the legislature, ending hope in Washington to split up congressman Jim Clyburn’s district and add to the list of gerrymandered gains for Republicans.