CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Rep. Jim Clyburn appeared on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday morning and said he remains confident he could win another term in a redistricted South Carolina.

Host Jake Tapper asked Rep. Clyburn what it would mean for South Carolina voters if his seat, which represents the state’s sixth congressional district, was eliminated. The congressman said voters will have the last word and he will run irrespective of the new makeup of his district.

“I don’t know why people think I could not get re-elected if they redistrict South Carolina,” he said before pointing out his district as currently drawn contains about 45% Black voters. “I have no idea what the demo will be after the legislature finishes [redistricting], but whatever that number is I will be running on a record and a promise – my record, and America’s promise.”

Clyburn, as one of the more prominent Democratic voices in American politics in the South over the past several decades, said his pitch to voters won’t change even if his new district is drawn to house more Republicans.

“I think that it is very clear to most people in America that voters, most voters, believe in fundamental fairness, most voters believe in competence, and most voters can tell the difference between a true public servant and someone who may be in it for the next social hit,” he said.

READ MORE | “Opponents raise racial, representation concerns as redistricting debate continues at State House”

The 17-term representative also said he believes Republicans’ redistricting plan could backfire.

“Be very careful what you pray for, because what I do believe is that when they finish with the redistricting, there will be the possibilities of at least three Democrats getting elected here in South Carolina to the United States Congress,” he said.

If re-elected, Clyburn would begin his 18th term in Congress in 2027. He has served as South Carolina’s representative for its Sixth Congressional District, which through multiple gerrymanders spanning decades has comprised of different parts of the Pee Dee, Midlands, and Lowcountry in some capacity, since 1993.

State lawmakers have pushed the redistricting issue legislatively in the last week in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. A special session on redistricting passed on Thursday in the State House, and more House legislation to push back congressional primaries to August advanced to the House Judiciary Committee Friday. The issue is expected to be taken back up in Columbia this week.

READ MORE | “SC House panel approves 2-month delay in congressional primary amid redistricting push”

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

South Carolina’s small towns each work a different angle. Beaufort sits under live oaks and Spanish moss inside a National Historic Landmark District you can walk in about an hour. McClellanville keeps about 600 residents on Jeremy Creek as a fishing village remnant from the early 1800s. Aiken’s winter-colony origins still show up in its late-1800s downtown architecture. Hilton Head Island pairs Coligny Beach Park sunsets with the Harbour Town Lighthouse and Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Travelers Rest puts the Swamp Rabbit Trail through downtown for cyclists and joggers, and the South Carolina towns ahead each earn their stop.

Clemson

Clemson runs on the energy of Clemson University, with around 18,364 residents and a steady mix of college-town shops and cafes. True Orange Boutique and Tiger Town Tavern anchor the downtown, with the historic Fort Hill on the same walking radius. The Bob & Betsy Campbell Museum holds exhibits on the town’s past for anyone who wants the longer story.

A stop at Boggs Store, an authentic general store from the early 1900s, now houses a restaurant called Calhoun Corners. The 17,500-acre Clemson Experimental Forest on the edge of town opens onto 105 miles of scenic trails for an afternoon outdoors.

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head’s reputation runs on South Beach, the Harbour Town and Sea Pines golf courses, and the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. The historic district pulls in a quieter crowd, with a walkable waterfront promenade and galleries like the Art League of Hilton Head. Skull Creek Boathouse and Poseidon both serve dinner with calm-water views.

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina is a longtime marina district worth a stop for the boat-side restaurants and harbor walk. End the day at Coligny Beach Park, where the sunset over Calibogue Sound is what most locals come for.

McClellanville

McClellanville is pure Lowcountry slow with just over 600 residents. Pinckney Street still feels like the early nineteenth century, and the Village Museum tells the story of the town’s fishing-village years.

The Buck Hall Recreation Area and Boat Landing nearby is good for a picnic with a chance of spotting herons or egrets. After dark, the lack of light pollution makes for genuine stargazing.

Aiken

A short drive from Augusta, Georgia, Aiken still carries the genteel character of its origins as a winter retreat for plantation families. Stately homes downtown reflect the “winter colony of Charleston” reputation. The walkable downtown holds antique shops, boutiques like White Rose Eclectics and Little Red Fox Shop, and cafes like The Village Cafe and New Moon Cafe. The Aiken County Historical Museum covers the town’s strong equestrian roots.

Hopelands Gardens spreads 14 acres of formal gardens and trails just outside the city center, with Aiken State Park nearby for a longer outing.

Pendleton

Pendleton sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with a town square, historic homes like the Ashtabula Historic District and Woodburn Historic House, and about 3,664 residents. Main Street holds early 19th-century architecture preserved through ongoing restoration.

The Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina covers the local farming history. Blue Ridge Mountain Park nearby offers hiking and picnic areas with the Pendleton countryside framing the views.

Hartsville

Hartsville is a Southern town with about 7,640 residents, grand historic homes, and Byerly Park as a green-space anchor. The Hartsville Black Creek Arts Council runs changing exhibits, and downtown Hartsville circles a small park. The town is also known for Darlington Raceway, one of NASCAR’s top tracks.

Guided tours are available at the raceway, and Hartsville Football Stadium is open to peek at on the same loop. For dinner, Sam Kendall’s and The Rooster One Thirty Six both cover Southern homestyle.

York

Tucked between Charlotte and Rock Hill along I-77, York keeps a small, walkable downtown. The historic district holds buildings like McCelvey Center, dating back over two centuries with Revolutionary War history baked in. York Street runs past the York County Courthouse and other long-standing landmarks. Nanny’s Mountain Trailhead nearby is a short, calming hike, while Allison Creek Park opens up to camping, fishing, hiking, or canoeing. Dinner at the Palmetto Bar & Grill is a good way to wrap the day before the drive home through countryside scenery.

Beaufort

Beaufort is the Southern Lowcountry’s second-oldest city, with antebellum homes and live oaks draped in Spanish moss across a National Historic Landmark District best explored on foot. The Beaufort History Museum, housed in an 18th-century structure, covers the town’s rich history.

The Heritage Library is where Pat Conroy wrote The Prince of Tides, and Gilligan’s Seafood Restaurant on the waterfront serves the day’s catch. Ferry boat tours head out into the marshlands for wildlife along the coast.

Travelers Rest

Travelers Rest sits in the foothills near Greenville and has held its mountain pace despite being so close to the city. The Swamp Rabbit Trail runs right through downtown for cyclists and walkers, and Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve covers the wooded option for hikers. Downtown food covers all-American at Travelers Restaurant and Pizza House, with Topsoil Restaurant on the slightly more ambitious end.

Boutiques and antique stores like Urban Hare LLC and Charlie’s Southern Rustiques fill out the downtown walk. The Historic Spring Park Inn, a 19th-century building that started as a stagecoach stop, is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Georgetown

Georgetown sits between Myrtle Beach and Charleston along the Waccamaw River, carrying its colonial-era rice plantation history into the present. The Rice Museum and surrounding historic homesteads cover plantation life from the 17th century forward. Downtown holds shops like Ship’s Booty, galleries like Art Harbor Gallery, and restaurants like Aunny’s Country Kitchen.

Winyah Bay nearby is good for views and bird sightings, including egrets. The Kaminski House Museum, a Georgian-design home, shows Southern life from the 1800s, and Hobcaw Barony Plantation runs guided tours.

Mount Pleasant

One of the largest towns in the Charleston area, Mt. Pleasant has held onto a low-key feel despite a population over 95,000. Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is a starting point and is known as “America’s Most Photographed Home.” Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and Shem Creek both offer water access, restaurants, and fresh seafood.

Sullivan’s Island, one of the state’s best beaches, is just outside town. History buffs can visit Fort Moultrie, where preserved structures span from the Revolutionary War through World War II coastal defenses, and catch the free lighthouse tours during the yearly Lighting of the Lighthouse Festival. Local dishes worth trying include shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and boiled peanuts.

From the Lowcountry to the Blue Ridge foothills, these South Carolina towns each tell a different piece of the state’s history. Some run on water, some on horse country, some on college life, but all of them slow you down enough to notice. The shortlist holds together because every town earns its spot.