My remarks on redistricting: from the House floor (video)

I want to thank everyone that took the time to email or call with your thoughts, advice, and support on the current redistricting debate.

Last night I presented a simple amendment to keep our community together in this process and also keep us represented in Congress by someone just across the dam, 20 miles away, instead of Oconee/Anderson, 100 miles away. That amendment failed.

Should the proposed map pass the House and Senate, be prepared to dial a different area code to get our representative in Washington. Instead of being represented closer to home, we will now dial 864 on our phones to reach the home office of our representative in Washington.

From today’s The State Newspaper :

” …State Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland, also spoke against the process Monday afternoon. He told his fellow lawmakers the current congressional map is legal, despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision prompting the redistricting frenzy across the country.

“The majority of my hard Republicans have told me not to vote for this map,” Ballentine said, sharing many of his constituents did not support the proposed map. The map splits Richland County three ways.

He also said in a typical map making process, lawmakers draw congressional districts instead of a consultant handing the General Assembly a proposal.

“I’m not a fan of what’s happening this week, but if this train is leaving the station, it is my duty to make sure my constituents have good seats,” Ballentine said. “And I’m hoping that this is your opportunity to support a map that was drawn here by an elected official.”

From the SC Daily Gazette :

“We’re going to have a mess on our hands with the elections,” said Ballentine. “The ballots are out. We’re having to figure out how to run two separate elections.”

Ballentine added that redistricting isn’t “just moving lines and pressing buttons. … It’s about how we want to shape the state of South Carolina. That process takes months.”

Ballentine also joined several other Republicans in voicing reservations about a plan targeting the state’s only seat held by a Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn.

“My mama raised me, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should,” Ballentine said.

Posts below from Nathan’s News :

May 16th: Redistricting Update from the State House (video)

May 8th: Redistricting – let me know your thoughts?

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Source: https://nathansnews.com/2026/05/my-remarks-on-redistricting-from-the-house-floor-video/