South Carolina has a rare opportunity to lead.

For the first time in decades, our state has a real chance to redraw congressional districts in a way that is constitutional, fair and focused on communities instead of racial politics. President Donald Trump correctly recognized this moment for what it is: an opportunity for states to move away from divisive race-based map drawing and return to equal treatment under the law. 

Last week, the United States Supreme Court handed down one of the most consequential voting rights decisions in a generation in Louisiana v. Callais. The Court made clear that race-based decision-making in congressional redistricting cannot override the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

I was proud to support that principle through an amicus brief filed alongside other states defending a colorblind application of the Constitution.

Redistricting has always been part of our nation’s political process. After every census, states redraw district lines to account for population changes and ensure equal representation. South Carolina has done this repeatedly throughout its history, just as every other growing state has.

But in recent decades, redistricting across America increasingly became dominated by one dangerous idea: that voters should primarily be sorted by race. (R

That approach fundamentally changed the purpose of districting. Instead of drawing geographically compact districts focused on shared communities and common........

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