Lawmakers in Annapolis began a special session Monday with a clear partisan goal. Their aim is to amend the state constitution to give Democrats more freedom to redraw Maryland’s Collisions congressional map, hoping to secure an additional U.S. House seat by 2028. The move has sparked fierce accusations of a power grab from minority Republicans. It marks the latest escalation in a national redistricting war that continues to reshape American politics.
The proposal under debate would alter the criteria judges use to evaluate congressional districts. It seeks to exempt them from requirements like compactness and respect for “natural boundaries.” These standards currently apply to state legislative maps. This change is a direct response to a 2022 court ruling. In that case, a judge struck down Maryland’s previous congressional map. He called it a “product of extreme partisan gerrymandering” for how it targeted Republican Rep. Andy Harris’s district.
Democratic state Senate President Bill Ferguson explained his evolving position. He initially blocked a similar effort earlier this year, fearing judicial backlash. “It felt like the unwinding of any type of democratic norms in the blink of an eye,” Ferguson said in an interview. His view shifted after the U.S. Supreme Court’s late April decision weakened the Voting Rights Act. He watched as Republican-led states swiftly redrew districts in the South. These moves could dilute minority voting power that has elected Democrats. Ferguson called the Republican actions “painful” to witness.
The current focus is Maryland’s 1st Congressional District, held by Harris. He chairs the conservative House Freedom Caucus. The district covers the rural Eastern Shore. In 2021, Democrats attempted to make it more competitive by adding communities across the Chesapeake Bay. The court invalidated that map. The new constitutional amendment is designed to prevent such legal defeats in the future. It would clear a path for a more aggressive partisan map in 2028.
For the change to take effect, it must pass with a three-fifths vote in both chambers. It would then go before Maryland voters on the November 5 ballot. If approved, lawmakers could redraw the congressional lines for the 2028 election cycle under the new, more flexible rules. Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, framed the effort as a necessary countermeasure. He said it gives final approval power to voters, not “party bosses.” This comes after his earlier frustration with the legislature’s refusal to act before the 2024 elections.
Republican leaders are mounting strong opposition. They criticize the rushed special session and limits placed on public testimony. House Minority Leader Jason Buckel called the hearing process “a brief and meaningless formality.” Rep. Andy Harris warned the amendment would enable severe gerrymandering. He argued it would break up rural areas of common interest. Their voters would be combined with urban and suburban populations, diluting their influence. Harris stated such a map would “of course” face a legal challenge.
Maryland’s actions are part of a broader national strategy. The redistricting battle intensified a year ago. Then, former President Donald Trump urged Republican states to maximize their House advantages ahead of the midterms. Analyses suggest new GOP-drawn maps in states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina could net the party up to 16 additional seats. Democrats have faced setbacks but see potential gains in states like California and Utah.
Now, a new phase is beginning, targeting the 2028 election. States like Maryland and New York are taking preparatory steps. New York’s Democratic-led legislature has already passed a similar constitutional amendment. It would authorize mid-decade redistricting and repeal bans on partisan gerrymandering. That measure needs final approval next year before going to voters.
The outcome in Maryland could signal whether Democrats will engage in the same aggressive cartography long practiced by Republicans. The special session is more than a local policy debate. It is a tactical maneuver in a high-stakes, nationwide fight for political control. The results will reverberate far beyond the Chesapeake Bay, influencing the balance of power in Congress for years to come.
- Amend state constitution for redistricting
- Aim for additional U.S. House seat by 2028
- Alter criteria for evaluating congressional districts
- Focus on Maryland’s 1st Congressional District
- Requires three-fifths vote to take effect
- Will go before voters on November 5 ballot
| State | Potential Additional Seats |
|---|---|
| Texas | Up to 16 |
| Florida | Up to 16 |
| North Carolina | Up to 16 |
| California | Potential gains |
| Utah | Potential gains |
| Maryland | One additional |
