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Maryland Democrats abandoned a controversial effort to redraw the state’s congressional map late Monday, delivering a setback to Wes Moore as party leaders clashed over how aggressively to counter Republican-led redistricting efforts nationwide.
The proposal died when the legislative session ended without action, with the Democratic-controlled state Senate leaving the bill in committee amid concerns it could trigger a legal challenge and ultimately backfire. The failure means Democrats will forgo an opportunity to strengthen their already dominant position in Maryland’s congressional delegation, where they hold a 7-1 advantage.
The proposed map was designed to make it easier to unseat the state’s lone Republican member of Congress, Andy Harris.
The push for a rare mid-decade redistricting effort followed encouragement from Donald Trump for Republican-led states, including Texas, to redraw congressional maps to boost GOP prospects ahead of the midterm elections. In response, Democrats in several states explored similar strategies, sparking a broader national battle over congressional boundaries outside the traditional once-a-decade redistricting cycle.
Moore, who appointed a panel in November to propose a new map, argued Maryland needed to act to counter what he described as partisan manipulation elsewhere. But opposition within his own party, led by Bill Ferguson, proved decisive.
Ferguson warned that redrawing the map could invite legal challenges that might leave Democrats worse off. He pointed to a 2021 congressional map that was struck down by a judge as “a product of extreme partisan gerrymandering,” prompting lawmakers to adopt a revised version in 2022. Some Democrats feared a new aggressive redraw could again be invalidated, potentially leading courts to impose a less favorable map.
Moore publicly disagreed, arguing that inaction could allow Republican-led efforts in other states to reshape the political landscape. “This is not a political game to me,” Moore said, warning that changes elsewhere could impact representation and election outcomes nationwide.
Speaking at an event hosted by the National Action Network alongside Al Sharpton, Moore accused Trump and his allies of attempting to “manipulate and change the rules” of elections. He also framed the issue in civil rights terms, comparing such efforts to discriminatory practices and warning of potential impacts on Black representation.
Despite pressure from Moore and national Democrats, including Hakeem Jeffries, the Maryland Senate declined to move forward, exposing a rare internal divide within the state’s Democratic leadership.
The standoff in Maryland is part of a wider national wave of mid-decade redistricting efforts. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts, where Republicans already hold 20 of 28 seats. In Virginia, voters are considering a constitutional amendment tied to a new congressional map, while both parties are eyeing potential gains in states including Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, California and Utah.
With the legislative session concluded, Maryland lawmakers would need a special session to revisit redistricting — a move that appears unlikely in the near term. Meanwhile, the national redistricting battle is expected to intensify as both parties pursue strategies to gain an edge before the midterms, with additional proposals and votes anticipated in the coming weeks.
