Maryland’s Democratic-controlled legislature moved forward this week on sending a constitutional amendment to voters that would allow the state to redraw its congressional district lines. The House approved the measure on Tuesday with a 96-38 vote, and the Senate was expected to vote the same day. Passage requires a three-fifths majority in both chambers, which lawmakers achieved during a special legislative session.
Republicans opposed the initiative, with Delegate Kevin Hornberger arguing against what he characterized as excessive partisanship and other Republican lawmakers stating that constituents do not support the change. One Democratic lawmaker raised concerns about potential consequences for rural areas that could be grouped with suburban districts, potentially affecting their access to federal resources. If approved by voters in November, the new maps would represent an adjustment to congressional boundaries outside the typical once-per-decade redistricting cycle that follows Census data releases.
The Maryland effort is part of broader redistricting activity across multiple states. Eight states controlled by Republicans—Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas—have redrawn maps with potential gains of as many as 16 seats for the party. California and Utah have made changes that could provide Democrats advantages in six races. Maryland’s Democratic leadership had previously blocked redistricting efforts, with Senate President Bill Ferguson citing concerns about the state Supreme Court rejecting new maps, as happened in 2022. Ferguson indicated his perspective shifted following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in April that weakened the Voting Rights Act.
The proposed amendment is designed to provide legal protection for new congressional maps by clarifying that certain mapping requirements—such as district compactness and regard for natural boundaries—would apply only to state legislative districts rather than congressional ones. This would permit congressional districts to cross geographic features like the Chesapeake Bay, potentially affecting the representation of the rural Eastern Shore, currently represented by Republican Rep. Andy Harris.
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