Redistricting brings out Democrat, GOP alliance

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The chief sponsor of the U.S. House redistricting plan says he is surprised the measure was approved.

Sen. Larry Grooms said Thursday he never expected nearly every Democrat in the Senate to vote for a plan that was drawn up to elect one more Republican to the U.S. House.

Senate GOP leaders called it the Republicrat plan. They said they wanted that district in the state’s northeastern corner and anchored by Horry and Florence counties.

Grooms’ plan moves the district into the state’s southern half and includes Beaufort County as it stretches from the Georgia border to Williamsburg County.

Redistricting is required every decade to make sure political district lines match population changes in the U.S. Census. Population increases meant South Carolina gained a new U.S. House seat.