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Maryland lawmakers will return to Annapolis next month for a special legislative session to consider a constitutional amendment that could reshape how the state draws congressional districts in future elections, reviving a politically charged debate over redistricting after Democrats abandoned an earlier effort this year.
Legislative leaders announced Tuesday that the Democratic-controlled General Assembly will convene Aug. 3 to consider a proposed constitutional amendment addressing future congressional redistricting. The proposal follows a failed attempt during the regular session to redraw Maryland’s congressional map in a way that could have strengthened Democrats’ hold on all eight of the state’s U.S. House seats.
Maryland’s current congressional delegation consists of seven Democrats and one Republican, with Rep. Andy Harris representing the state’s only GOP-held district.
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said the amendment is intended to clarify the Maryland Constitution following a 2022 court ruling that invalidated the state’s previous congressional map.
“Maryland needs a durable, transparent constitutional framework for congressional redistricting that reflects the evolving legal landscape,” Peña-Melnyk said in a statement. “This special session gives the General Assembly the opportunity to respond thoughtfully to recent court decisions while ensuring that Maryland voters have the final say on any proposed constitutional changes.”
Legislative leaders did not release the amendment’s language, but said it would clarify constitutional standards governing congressional maps.
If approved by a three-fifths vote in both legislative chambers, the proposal would appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Voter approval would amend the state constitution and could allow lawmakers to revisit congressional district boundaries in a future election cycle.
Redistricting fight resumes
The special session places Maryland back at the center of a broader national fight over congressional redistricting as both parties continue seeking political advantages ahead of future elections.
Although congressional districts are traditionally redrawn once every decade following the U.S. Census, several states have explored mid-decade changes after recent court decisions and shifting political strategies.
Earlier this year, the Maryland House approved a congressional map that would have made Harris’ district significantly more favorable for Democratic candidates. The proposal stalled in the Senate, where Senate President Bill Ferguson expressed concerns that the plan could face legal challenges similar to those that derailed the state’s previous map.
In 2022, Maryland’s highest court struck down an earlier congressional map after concluding it violated state constitutional requirements, forcing lawmakers to adopt a revised plan.
Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, has supported renewed efforts to examine congressional boundaries and welcomed lawmakers’ decision to revisit the issue.
“I appreciate the General Assembly’s agreement to come back to finish the work,” Moore said in a statement.
Republicans criticize proposal
Maryland Republicans condemned the special session, arguing the effort is designed to eliminate the state’s lone Republican congressional district.
“One Republican Congressman represents hundreds of thousands of Marylanders who deserve a voice in Washington,” Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready said in a statement. “This special session is designed to erase that voice and hand national Democrats another seat in the U.S. House.”
Republicans contend the proposal reflects a broader national effort by Democrats to maximize congressional representation through favorable district maps.
National implications
The Maryland debate comes amid renewed battles over congressional redistricting across the country.
President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-controlled states to pursue mid-decade redistricting efforts after arguing they could help offset expected losses in future elections. Democrats have responded by examining similar options in states where they control state government.
Recent federal court decisions, including a U.S. Supreme Court ruling affecting portions of the Voting Rights Act, have also reshaped the legal landscape surrounding congressional maps and prompted lawmakers in multiple states to reconsider district boundaries.
Any constitutional amendment approved by Maryland voters would not immediately redraw congressional districts but could establish new legal standards governing future redistricting efforts.
