Maryland to lay groundwork for redistricting in special session
State legislators in Maryland plan to hold a special session this August to amend the state’s constitution, aiming to create a clear legal pathway for redistricting following recent court decisions that undermined the federal Voting Rights Act. This move is seen as a way for Democrats to possibly redraw district lines mid-decade, possibly enhancing their chances in future elections. The proposed change requires a three-fifths majority approval in the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and would then be decided by voters in a November referendum. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has supported the effort, while Republicans have criticized it, claiming it risks unfairly manipulating the political process. The initiative is unlikely to influence the upcoming 2026 midterm elections but could impact the 2028 cycle. The state’s delegation currently includes only one Republican, rep. andy Harris, who could be targeted by Democrats for gaining an additional congressional seat.
State legislators will descend on Maryland’s capital in an August special session to remove a key constitutional hurdle preventing Democrats from picking up a GOP congressional seat.
The Maryland General Assembly, which comprises both the state House of Representatives and Senate, will meet several months after the Supreme Court ruled that the Voting Rights Act does not mandate the creation of majority-minority districts. GOP moves in response to eliminate strong Democratic seats, mostly in Southern states, have left Democrats reeling.
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“After recent court decisions weakened the federal Voting Rights Act and created new uncertainty around congressional redistricting, Maryland needs a clear legal path forward,” Democratic state Senate President Bill Ferguson said in a joint statement with Democratic state House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk. “This special session will allow the General Assembly to do its part while ensuring that Maryland voters make the final decision.”
The specific language of the proposed change to Maryland’s constitution has not been released. Yet it would almost certainly enable Democrats in the state to make mid-decade changes to district lines, which typically occur after the U.S. census is released every 10 years.
Legislators must first pass the proposal by a three-fifths majority in the General Assembly, where Democrats hold a decisive majority. At that point, it would be placed on the November general election ballot for voters to make the final decision.
Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) heralded the legislature’s move on Tuesday. “I appreciate the General Assembly’s continued conversations and the agreement to come back to finish the work,” he said.
Maryland Republicans, meanwhile, were less thrilled. The state’s Senate Republican Caucus released a statement decrying what it alleged to be an effort to “gut the state constitution and hand Washington a congressional seat that Maryland voters never gave them.”
GEORGIA GOP LAWMAKERS CALL OFF REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION
Maryland’s 10-strong congressional delegation features only one Republican, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD). Harris, who covers Maryland’s portion of the Delmarva Peninsula, would be a key target for Democrats looking to pick up an additional seat in the House of Representatives.
While Maryland’s special session is too late to have an impact on the state’s 2026 midterm elections, it may sway the outcome in 2028.
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