Maryland commission proposes redrawn congressional map, despite Democratic divisions
A redistricting commission formed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has voted in favor of a new congressional map that would draw the state’s only Republican, Rep. Andy Harris, to a more Democratic-friendly district.
The map now heads to the Democratic-controlled Maryland Legislature, where its future is uncertain because of continued opposition in the state Senate.
Maryland Democrats are divided on whether to join the national fight over mid-decade redistricting. Moore and national Democrats have urged state lawmakers to retaliate against GOP-controlled states that drew new maps last year, and the state’s new House Speaker, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, is also on board.
But Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has repeatedly said the Democratic caucus would not support a redrawn map, arguing it would be legally risky and could backfire politically.
Ferguson sharply criticized the commission’s proposed map on Tuesday.
“The Governor’s Commission today recommended a map that is objectively unconstitutional and jeopardizes Maryland’s existing map,” Ferguson said in a statement. “From the beginning, the Senate’s position has been consistent: At this important moment, Maryland cannot risk going backwards by granting the Trump administration one or two additional congressional seats from Maryland’s delegation.”
The Maryland Legislature is expected to quickly pass a new map to put it in place for this year’s midterm elections, where control of the House is at stake. The deadline for congressional nominations is Feb. 24 and primaries are June 23, although lawmakers can vote to move back both dates.
The possibility of a constitutional amendment on redistricting is also being discussed, which would put the question to voters, a source familiar with the negotiations said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., applauded the committee’s proposed map.
“Republican partisan hackers were counting on Democrats to roll over while they gerrymandered congressional maps in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Florida. They were wrong,” he said in a statement. “Arrogant and corrupt Republicans started this battle. Democrats will end it. We will ensure there are free and fair midterm elections in November.”
The redistricting commission, chaired by U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Democrat of Maryland, has held a half-dozen virtual hearings over the past three months, allowing voters to submit maps and testify publicly about redistricting.
“At a time when other states are moving to aggressively redraw the maps and the protection of fundamental voting rights faces new threats, Maryland has a responsibility to urgently take the lead,” Alsobrooks said in a statement.
Moore billed the process as the most “extensive” in the country in an interview with The Associated Press, although Ferguson criticized the commission for holding private meetings.
Ferguson argued Tuesday that there was little testimony on how the new map would affect the election.
“Ultimately, a faulty process gave rise to a faulty product,” Ferguson said in his statement.
State Sen. Clarence Lam, a Democrat who supports redistricting, said he believes releasing a map would mobilize voters in favor.
“What happens in Washington, D.C. is extremely important to the quality of life and pocketbooks of Marylanders,” Lam said. “We need to make this point to Marylanders to help them understand why even one seat can make a difference.”
“The next two weeks are going to be critical,” he added.
Redrawing district boundaries usually takes place at the beginning of each decade after the results of the new census. But President Donald Trump launched an unusually frenzied mid-cycle redistricting campaign last summer, when he called on Republican-controlled states across the country to draw new maps to solidify the Republican Party’s narrow majority in the House.
A total of six states have adopted new congressional maps in 2025, while Virginia Democrats and Florida Republicans are taking steps to join the battle this year.
