A House contest where race, gerrymandering and the Supreme Court loom large

ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. — Michael B. Moore sat down, closed his eyes and lowered his head. The pastor standing behind him clamped his palm on Moore’s shoulder, and three women rested their hands on his back and arms. They sang, prayed and shouted “Hallelujah!” They gave their blessings knowing that the political road ahead would be difficult for Moore, a great-great-grandson of a Civil War hero who commandeered a Confederate steamer to escape slavery before serving five terms in Congress. Moore, 61, hopes to follow in his ancestor’s footsteps by winning a House seat as a Democrat here in South Carolina. One woman leaned toward Moore’s face, gripped his hands and knelt to pray. Another placed her hand on his head as the candidate wiped tears from his eyes. “There’s absolutely nothing that can harm you,” the woman thundered. “We don’t care about no gerrymandering.” Many fellow Democrats lack her confidence. This spring, the Supreme Court signed off on district lines in South Carolina that Republican state lawmakers said they had designed to benefit their party. The 1st District, held for the last four years by Rep. Nancy Mace (R), had previously been competitive but is now ranked solidly...