{"id":2504437,"date":"2025-10-29T15:49:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T19:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/weve-lost-from-the-beginning-maryland-dem-breaks-with-democrats-blocks-gerrymandering-plot\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T15:52:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T19:52:41","slug":"weve-lost-from-the-beginning-maryland-dem-breaks-with-democrats-blocks-gerrymandering-plot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/weve-lost-from-the-beginning-maryland-dem-breaks-with-democrats-blocks-gerrymandering-plot\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;We&#8217;ve Lost from the Beginning&#8217;: Maryland Dem Breaks with Democrats, Blocks Gerrymandering Plot"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fweve-lost-from-the-beginning-maryland-dem-breaks-with-democrats-blocks-gerrymandering-plot%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2504437&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, has halted his party&#8217;s attempt to redraw congressional districts mid-cycle to target the state&#8217;s only Republican representative, Andy Harris. Despite Democrats controlling the governor&#8217;s office and holding legislative supermajorities,Ferguson refused to back a special session for redistricting,warning that such a move could be legally challenged and &#8220;catastrophic.&#8221; He emphasized concerns about the fairness of using party affiliation in redistricting, drawing parallels to racial gerrymandering and referencing past unsuccessful efforts to eliminate harris&#8217;s seat. This dispute occurs amid a broader national push by both parties to redraw maps ahead of the 2026 elections, with Republicans aiming to gain seats in several states and Democrats pursuing similar efforts in others.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, Maryland state Senate President Bill Ferguson &mdash; a Democrat &mdash; blocked his party&rsquo;s effort to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-seek-redistricting-changes-in-key-states-to-regain-house-majority\/\" title=\"... aim to alter ... in crucial states for House majority recovery.\">redraw congressional maps<\/a>, halting plans to target the state&rsquo;s only Republican lawmaker.<\/p>\n<p>In a three-page <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/f\/?id=0000019a-2db8-d346-affb-2fbfb2170000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> to his Democratic colleagues, first obtained by Politico, Ferguson said he would not support holding a special session to redraw the maps and warned that a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-hangs-hopes-for-2026-midterm-elections-on-one-big-beautiful-act-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump hangs hopes for 2026 midterm elections on One Big Beautiful Act - Washington Examiner\">mid-cycle redistricting<\/a> effort would be &ldquo;catastrophic.&rdquo; Despite controlling the governor&rsquo;s office and holding supermajorities in both chambers, Democrats cannot advance a redistricting plan without Ferguson&rsquo;s support.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If one seat is the difference between whether or not we are standing up to Donald Trump, then we&rsquo;ve lost from the beginning,&rdquo; Ferguson told reporters on Tuesday, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2025\/10\/29\/maryland-redistricting-senate-letter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Washington Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Andy Harris, chair of the House Freedom Caucus and the state&rsquo;s sole Republican in Congress, has been the target of the redistricting push, backed by <a href=\"https:\/\/foxbaltimore.com\/news\/local\/gerrymandering-congressional-redistricting-us-representatives-jamie-raskin-maryland-governor-hints-special-session-republican-democrat-politics-any-harris-gop-bowie-election\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gov. Wes Moore<\/a> and state House Speaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebanner.com\/politics-power\/state-government\/maryland-redistricting-general-assembly-UNWOOQB3VNAERLCRLSWKW77PX4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adrienne Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In his letter, Ferguson referenced Maryland&rsquo;s 2021 Democratic map effort, which aimed to eliminate Harris&rsquo;s seat but was struck down by a judge. He warned that rushing mid-cycle changes could <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >face similar legal challenges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> console.log(\"A\/B Test Video Player\"); \/\/ Helper function to set a cookie function setVideoCookie(name, value, days) {     var expires=\"\";     if (days) {         var date=new Date();         date.setTime(date.getTime() + (days*24*60*60*1000));         expires=\"; expires=\" + date.toUTCString();     }     document.cookie=name + \"=\" + (value || \"\")  + expires + \"; path=\/\"; }  \/\/ Helper function to get a cookie function getVideoCookie(name) {     var nameEQ=name + \"=\";     var ca=document.cookie.split(';');     for(var i=0; i <ca.length; i++) {         var c=ca[i];         while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c=c.substring(1,c.length);         if (c.indexOf(nameEQ)==0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);     }     return null; }  \/\/ Function to determine or retrieve the split test group function assignSplitTestGroup() {     var group=getVideoCookie('splitTestGroup'); 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            if (!container) return;              const script=document.createElement(\"script\");             script.src=\"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\";             script.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\");             script.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\");              \/\/ append inside the container so player shows in correct spot             container.appendChild(script);         }         function findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) {             const targetElement=document.querySelector(selector);             if (!targetElement) {                 console.warn(\"Target element not found.\");                 return null;             }              \/\/ Get all \n\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document             let paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));              \/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element             let targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING); 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        observeElement(paragraphToObserve);     }); }  \/\/ stn function stnPlayer() {     \/\/ may want to pass in         document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() {         function loadScript(src) {             const script=document.createElement(\"script\");             script.src=src;             script.async=true;             document.body.appendChild(script);         }         function findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) {             const targetElement=document.querySelector(selector);             if (!targetElement) {                 console.warn(\"Target element not found.\");                 return null;             }              \/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document             let paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));              \/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element             let targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);              if (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) {                 console.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\");                 return null;             }              return paragraphs[targetIndex - x];         }          \/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver         function observeElement(element) {             if (!element) return;              const observer=new IntersectionObserver(                 (entries)=> {                     entries.forEach(entry=> {                         if (entry.isIntersecting) {                             console.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim());                             loadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\");                             observer.disconnect();                         }                     });                 },                 { threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed             );              observer.observe(element);         }          \/\/ Add custom styles for STN player         const style=document.createElement('style');         style.textContent=`         #videoPlayer {             min-height: 460px;             margin-bottom: 10px;         }         @media only screen and (max-width: 780px) {             #videoPlayer {                 min-height: 200px;             }         }         `;         document.head.appendChild(style);          \/\/ Add needed div for STN player         const stnDiv=document.createElement(\"div\");         \/\/ add data-stn-player attribute         stnDiv.setAttribute(\"data-stn-player\", \"s28Az7AY\");         document.getElementById(\"videoPlayer\").appendChild(stnDiv);           \/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #videoPlayer and observe it         let paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#videoPlayer\", 2);         observeElement(paragraphToObserve);     }); }  \/\/ Assign user to a group window.adUserGroup=assignSplitTestGroup(); let isSubbed=getCookie( 'ff_subbed' );  \/\/ Example usage if (isSubbed) {     console.log('User is subscribed, not running a player'); } else if (window.adUserGroup==='A') {     console.log('Running Aditude player for group A');     aditudePlayer(); } else if (window.adUserGroup==='B') {     console.log('Running Anyclip player for group B');     anyclipPlayer(); } else {     console.log('Running STN player for group C');     stnPlayer(); } <\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In Maryland, 31.5 percent of registered voters are registered Republicans,&rdquo; Ferguson noted. &ldquo;We do not know how a court would assess a revised midcycle map and whether the court would use party affiliation as a measure.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson also drew a parallel between partisan redistricting and racial gerrymandering.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is hypocritical to say that it is abhorrent to tactically shift voters based on race, but not to do so based on party affiliation,&rdquo; Ferguson wrote. &ldquo;As we weigh the risk and grounds for mid-cycle redistricting in Maryland, it is important to acknowledge the jurisprudence and work of many to create racially fair maps.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson&rsquo;s office did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation&rsquo;s request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland&rsquo;s redistricting debate comes amid a nationwide scramble from both parties, with President Donald Trump encouraging Republican-led states to redraw districts in their favor ahead of the 2026 elections. Texas, Missouri and North Carolina have already approved new maps, which could give the GOP a combined gain of seven seats in the midterms.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Democrats are pursuing their own redistricting efforts.<\/p>\n<p>In California, voters will decide in November whether to transfer mapmaking authority from the state&rsquo;s independent commission to the Legislature. If approved, the move could add up to five Democratic seats, shrinking the state&rsquo;s already small Republican delegation to just four of 52. Virginia Democrats are also seeking to redraw maps to gain up to three additional seats.<\/p>\n<p>In Illinois, however, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has faced strong resistance from state Democrats over his push to redraw their already heavily gerrymandered congressional map.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p><em>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/union-membership-plummets-to-record-low\/\" title=\"Union Membership Plummets to Record Low\">legitimate news publisher<\/a> that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter&rsquo;s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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In a three-page letter to fellow Democrats obtained by Politico, Ferguson stated he would not back a special session for redistricting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2504438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bill-Ferguson.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3685,22850,4837,5894],"class_list":["post-2504437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democrats","tag-gerrymandering","tag-maryland","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bill-Ferguson.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2504437"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504437\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2504441,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504437\/revisions\/2504441"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2504438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2504437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2504437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2504437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}