WASHINGTON, DC (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department won't oppose South Carolina's plans for a redrawing U.S. House district lines that add a new seventh district along the coast.
The Justice Department notified state lawmakers Friday that the Attorney General won't object to the plan and precleared it.
Monday, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian said a lawsuit will be filed within two weeks over the U.S. House district plans.
Harpootlian said he's preparing a lawsuit to challenge those plans. He said the Justice Department uses outmoded thinking to support creating districts that are majority black.
He points to support among white voters in South Carolina for President Barack Obama in the 2008 election and last year's election of U.S. Rep. Tim Scott as signs candidates' race no longer determines elections.
He favors districts where black voters are more dispersed.
South Carolina's population gains gave the state a seventh district.
Republican lawmakers control the Legislature and the plans for where the district would be added. They put the new district in the state's northeastern corner and anchored it on fast-growing Horry County around Myrtle Beach.
The new district stretches along the state line with North Carolina, into Florence County then down the coast into Georgetown County.
This is the second South Carolina map to receive the necessary approval from the Justice Department - earlier this month, the map for State House Districts received its preclearance.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement about the Congressional Map's approval:
"This is great news for all the citizens of our state who will now have an even stronger presence in Congress with the addition of South Carolina's new 7th Congressional District. With this approval from the U.S. Department of Justice, South Carolina's Congressional lines are now set and every South Carolinian will be guaranteed a voice in Washington.
"We put a tremendous amount of work and careful consideration into this once-a-decade map drawing process. As more and more people realize that South Carolina is a great place to live, work and raise a family, the ensuing population boom our state has experienced over the past ten years presented lawmakers with several challenges. Based on new census data and extensive public input, lawmakers did their best to make sure our seven districts represented not only their unique regions but our state as a whole.
"The approval of the State House Map and now the Congressional Map speaks volumes about how well thought out and fair this process was. I'd like to thank everybody involved in this redistricting process for all their hard work - especially House Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison, the House Judiciary Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, our incredible staff and the many citizens of our state who took the time and effort to give valuable input to lawmakers."
Republican state representative Thad Viers , Democrat Parnell Diggs, and small business operator Mande Wilkes have announced they're running for the seat.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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