The Republican Party could be shut out of Maryland’s congressional delegation if a new map recommended by the state’s redistricting advisory commission moves forward—an outcome Republicans say they’ll challenge.
The commission, created by Governor Wes Moore in November to make redistricting recommendations, voted in a private meeting Tuesday to send its proposed map to Moore.
Nicole Beus Harris, chairwoman of the Maryland GOP, told Newsweek: “Despite overwhelming public opposition, Wes Moore’s rigged redistricting commission produced exactly what we expected: an extremely gerrymandered, unconstitutional map. Republicans in the General Assembly will fight this every step of the way. If it gets passed by the MGA, the MDGOP looks forward to defeating this gerrymander in court.”
Why It Matters
A broader redistricting battle is unfolding nationwide, with both parties seeking to reshape congressional maps ahead of this year’s midterm elections. With Republicans holding a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress, even a single seat can have major consequences.
What To Know
Under the commission’s proposed map, Maryland’s 1st Congressional District—currently anchored on the Eastern Shore—would be redrawn and expanded into more Democratic-leaning areas.
Democrats already hold seven of Maryland’s eight U.S. House seats. If the map is adopted, it could make the remaining seat more competitive for Democrats and potentially unseat the state’s lone House Republican, Rep. Andy Harris, who has served since 2011.
Before any new map can take effect, it must be approved by both the Maryland House and Senate.
Still, the proposal has drawn resistance—even within Democratic ranks. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson suggested earlier this month in comments to WYPR that he opposed the plan, warning it could create risk for the state. “My objective is to not jeopardize the current map, where we are in a good position to stand firm against the Trump administration,” he said. “Others have a different belief, and I understand, and it’s contentious, but I understand that we all share the same value. That we want to be fighting back. It’s a matter of ‘Where do we place our energy at this point?’”
Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey in the U.K, said Democrats must find a lawful strategy to counter what he described as an overreach by the Trump administration.
“Winning the House in the midterms is key and the party can’t afford to go high when states such as Texas, Missouri and North Carolina have decided to go low,” he said. Shanahan added that while Ferguson may object to the process on principle, Democrats have to weigh the national stakes: “Ferguson may be opposed to the redistricting on principle, but President Trump has no concept of what principle is, and Democrats have to learn swiftly to take to the fight on his terms.”
What People Are Saying
Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks, chair of the governor’s panel, said in a release: “At a moment when other states are moving aggressively to redraw maps, and when fundamental voting rights protections face renewed threats, Maryland has a responsibility to lead with urgency.
“Our goal is to ensure our congressional delegation reflects the will of the people, protects representation for historically underrepresented communities, and gives Marylanders a Congress that can serve as a real check on this President.”
Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Democratic speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, wrote on X: “I’m glad the Governor’s Commission has recommended that Maryland continues to support these important Congressional redistricting efforts and I’m happy the work is continuing.”
Democratic state Senator Bill Ferguson told Fox Baltimore: “It is hard for me to understand how moving forward a map in this context could ever withstand constitutional scrutiny.”
What Happens Next
The state’s deadline to have a congressional map in place ahead of the November midterms is February 24.
