South Dakota Legislature approves redistricting map, as lawmakers override conservative opposition

PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Legislature has reached a deal on new legislative boundaries that, supporters say, will leave legislators equally happy and unhappy.

But after three grueling days, it's a new map, nonetheless.

The House of Representatives overcame a last-minute challenge to scuttle a compromised map between the Senate and House and voted down a motion from congressional candidate Rep. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, to start the process anew.

"It doesn't cost us anything," said Howard, urging the body stay longer in Pierre to hash out a new compromise and accusing the Senate of "bullying" the House in the process. "I know everybody's tired, and everybody wants to go home. But we know it's not for the best for the people of this state."

A map called Sparrow, an offshoot of a Senate-backed map called Blackbird, had gained large support from moderate Republicans and the lower chamber's few Democrats but was criticized by many conservative House members, some of who may be locked in primaries against each other. The Sparrow map also maintains single-member House districts on western reservations, and bridges North Rapid with the rest of the city — a new approach for the long, gerrymandered indigenous neighborhoods.

Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/7277065-South-Dakota-Legislature-approves-redistricting-map-as-lawmakers-override-conservative-opposition