Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has warned his own party to proceed carefully with South Carolina’s redistricting push, cautioning that thousands of voters who have already cast ballots in the statewide primary could be disenfranchised if the primary date is moved.

Speaking at a campaign event near Charleston, Graham said he had not seen any of the maps currently circulating in the state legislature. He also came out against any move to change the date of the statewide primary, on which his name will appear as he seeks the Republican nomination for reelection.

“When I say fight fire with fire, you still have to be smart,” Graham said, as quoted by ABC News. “Whether or not this is smart is yet to be determined until you look at the map and what kind of legal challenges you have.”

Graham argued there is no justification for shifting the statewide primary date when early voting is already underway. He said a congressional primary could potentially be pushed back to August if lawmakers ultimately decide to draw new maps, but he drew a clear line at altering the schedule for the broader statewide contest.

“Thousands of people have already voted. We shouldn’t invalidate their votes,” Graham said. “There is no reason to change the primary. People have already voted.”

Graham’s position is notably more restrained than that of several Republican allies in the state who have pushed aggressively to redraw congressional maps in a way that would likely unseat Democratic Representative James Clyburn from his 6th Congressional District seat. South Carolina’s Senate adjourned on Thursday without taking up an amended resolution that would have allowed redistricting to proceed after the formal legislative session ends on May 14.

President Donald Trump has reportedly urged Republican leadership to back new maps that would minimise representation for the state’s Democratic voters, who make up approximately 41 percent of registered voters in South Carolina. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette also urged the Senate to pass the amended resolution, framing the redistricting effort as a matter of national significance.

The broader mid-decade redistricting wave was given legal momentum when the conservative majority on the US Supreme Court significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act, opening the door for Southern states to remove minority-majority protected districts. Republicans in several states have moved to redraw maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, anticipating Democratic gains in an environment where Trump’s approval rating sits at around 39 percent.

Graham’s cautious approach suggests an awareness of the legal and political risks involved, particularly given that any new maps would likely face immediate court challenges. “I’d like to have more Republicans, but you have to be smart about it,” Graham said. “I can’t tell you what’s a good deal or not until everyone sees the map.”