(Columbia, SC) — South Carolina Congressman James E. Clyburn joined CNN’s Laura Coates Live with Victor Blackwell this week to speak out against recent Republican-led redistricting efforts, calling them “absolutism” and warning of a dangerous erosion of democratic norms.
The conversation was sparked by comments from fellow South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman, who has publicly suggested that redistricting efforts could be used to end Clyburn’s long career in Congress. Clyburn dismissed the remarks as little more than a cry for attention.
“Norm is looking for some attention, and I suspect this is the way of trying to get it,” Clyburn told CNN. “I know Ralph Norman very well… Norm doesn’t believe in fairness.”
The veteran lawmaker made it clear that while he remains unbothered personally, he is deeply concerned about what he sees happening nationwide — particularly in Texas. There, Republicans are pushing to increase their control over congressional seats despite Democrats earning a sizable share of the vote.
“In Texas, they want to hold 79% of the congressional seats even though Democrats got 43% of the vote,” Clyburn said. “That’s not partisanship. That’s absolutism.”
He warned that if Republicans continue to manipulate district maps for political gain, Democrats will be forced to respond in kind.
“There’s an old saying that you fight fire with fire,” he said. “It would not be good for the country for us to do it on our side—but it’s also not good for the country for Democrats to keep rolling over.”
Clyburn emphasized that Democrats have long supported fair and bipartisan approaches to redistricting, pointing to the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act and other legislative efforts that proposed independent commissions to draw district maps. However, he noted that such fairness has often gone unreciprocated.
“If Texas does what they say they’re going to do, California is going to follow suit, New York, Illinois… and I guarantee you, we are going to fight fire with fire.”
When asked whether Democrats risk losing that battle due to Republican control of more state legislatures, Clyburn pointed to the American people.
“Most of the people I talk to believe in fundamental fairness,” he said. “Democrats are in this position because we’ve been fair. But that’s not what people like Ralph Norman want. They want absolute power.”
The congressman’s remarks come as national tensions rise over voting rights, gerrymandering, and control of legislative districts heading into the 2026 election cycle.
As the political fight over maps intensifies, Clyburn’s message to Democratic voters was clear: The stakes are high, and fairness in representation is on the line.
