Maryland lawmakers initiated a process to potentially redraw the state's congressional map during a special session on Tuesday, passing a constitutional amendment that could allow Democrats to gain the only Republican seat in the state's nine-member congressional delegation by 2028. The amendment, which requires voter approval in November, aims to create a different standard for drawing congressional districts compared to assembly districts, with the intention of protecting any future redistricting efforts from legal challenges.
Democratic Governor Wes Moore stated at a press conference that the federal government has encouraged Republican states to pursue mid-decade redistricting while advising Democratic states to refrain from action. He emphasized the need for Maryland residents to have the final say in elections. In 2022, a Maryland state court rejected proposed congressional maps, labeling them as extreme partisan gerrymandering. State Senate President Bill Ferguson noted that the new bill seeks to clarify that the requirements from the 2022 ruling apply only to General Assembly seats, potentially facilitating a congressional gerrymander.
Ferguson cited the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais as a significant factor prompting legislative action. He expressed concerns that without addressing the uncertainty created by the 2022 ruling, any redistricting efforts could jeopardize the state's current map. Maryland's consideration of redistricting aligns with actions taken by other Democrat-led states in anticipation of the 2028 elections. In November, Governor Moore established a Redistricting Advisory Commission, chaired by U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, which recommended a new map in January. Although the state House of Delegates approved the map, it did not advance in the state Senate during the regular session.