GOP governor's abrupt reversal sets up 'do or die' moment for Dems: analyst

A political analyst warned on Thursday that Democrats have reached a "do or die" moment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections as a red state escalates its efforts to gerrymander its map.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, announced on Thursday that he is calling a special session for state lawmakers to redraw their election map ahead of the midterms. The announcement comes after McMaster refused to call a special session earlier this month after the state legislature failed to secure a veto-proof majority supporting the new maps during its regular session.

What makes the move so pernicious, according to Brian Tyler Cohen, a progressive YouTuber, is that South Carolina Republicans only need a simple majority to pass the maps in a special session, lowering the bar for passage.

Cohen said in a new reaction video that McMaster's call for a special session presents a "do or die" scenario for blue states that could help thwart Republican gains through gerrymandering.

"The onus is now on us to apply as much pressure as humanly possible to our blue state officials," Cohen said. "And if they won't do it, like Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson, then we need to support Bobby LaPin, his primary opponent, who's running against him. If they won't do it, like Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, then we need to support the gubernatorial candidates in Colorado who will."

The push for South Carolina to adopt a new election map came after the Supreme Court ruled in Louisiana v. Callais that states can gerrymander their maps for partisan purposes. Already, red states like Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama have redrawn their maps to eliminate Democratic congressional seats.