{"id":2563379,"date":"2026-02-03T07:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/divisions-and-legal-threats-hit-maryland-democrats-gerrymander-3\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T07:29:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:29:33","slug":"divisions-and-legal-threats-hit-maryland-democrats-gerrymander-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/divisions-and-legal-threats-hit-maryland-democrats-gerrymander-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Divisions and legal threats hit Maryland Democrats&#8217; gerrymander"},"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\">16<\/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%2Fdivisions-and-legal-threats-hit-maryland-democrats-gerrymander-3%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=2563379&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>The article reports on Maryland Democrats\u2019 bid to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/weve-lost-from-the-beginning-maryland-dem-breaks-with-democrats-blocks-gerrymandering-plot\/\" title=\"&#039;We&#039;ve Lost from the Beginning&#039;: ... Dem Breaks with ..., Blocks Gerrymandering Plot\">redraw congressional districts mid-cycle<\/a>,a plan facing strong internal opposition and potential legal challenges,with national implications for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Gov. Wes Moore and allied Democrats push a new congressional map designed to maximize Democratic seats, extending Rep. Andy Harris\u2019s district across the Chesapeake Bay to favor Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson,a Democrat,is blocking the proposal,creating tensions within the party and raising questions about whether the plan will survive.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The map would apply to the 2026 midterm elections but require voter approval for the 2028 and 2030 cycles; if enacted, it could shift Maryland from a 7-1 to an 8-0 Democratic delegation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Proponents argue the move responds to Republican redistricting in other states and protects Maryland voters, while opponents \u2014 including Republicans and groups like Judicial Watch \u2014 say the plan is unconstitutional and could be struck down by courts.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The dispute could have broader consequences for national politics, given Democrats\u2019 hopes that flipping a single seat could influence control of the U.S. House in 2026; Moore frames the effort as a check against the Trump era, while Ferguson warns of constitutional and legal risks.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Maryland House has passed the legislation, but Ferguson\u2019s opposition makes its passage in the Senate uncertain, and legal scrutiny or court rulings could ultimately determine the map\u2019s fate.  <\/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\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Divisions and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >legal threats handicap redistricting bid<\/a> by Maryland Democrats<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2479991\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Maryland&rsquo;s attempt to replicate California Gov. Gavin Newsom&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3863824\/democrats-try-to-keep-up-with-republicans-in-national-redistricting-war\/\">mid-cycle redistricting<\/a> feat is hitting a brick wall of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3869404\/maryland-senate-president-bill-ferguson-midcycle-redistricting\/\">Democratic divisions<\/a> as conservative critics line up to mount legal challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, is single-handedly standing in the way of the gerrymandering push by Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wes-moore\/\">Wes Moore<\/a> (D-MD) and his allies, creating <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3869404\/maryland-senate-president-bill-ferguson-midcycle-redistricting\/\">tensions with state and national Democrats<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4443572\/james-comer-clinton-testify-oversight-contempt-proceedings\/\">Bill and Hillary Clinton cave to Oversight Committee and agree to testify in Epstein probe<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4443414\/colin-allred-jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-mediocre-black-man\/\">Colin Allred endorses Jasmine Crockett, says James Talarico called him &#8216;mediocre black man&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442966\/andy-barr-cash-advantage-daniel-cameron-polls-kentucky-senate\/\">Andy Barr boasts cash advantage while Daniel Cameron leads in Kentucky Senate polls<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Citing perceived legal and political risks, Ferguson is unyielding in his blockade of Moore&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4426974\/maryland-redistricting-commission-approves-new-map\/\">new congressional map<\/a> to net the party an additional U.S. House seat by sweeping all eight districts and ousting House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), even as the Maryland House passed the legislation Monday night.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The world is uncertain, the world is crazy, and we have a limited amount of time and energy and focus, and we have to put it where it matters most,&rdquo; Ferguson recently told reporters, citing a state budget deficit and the economy. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to pass policies that truly and actually protect Marylanders against Trump administration.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The standoff could carry national consequences, with Democrats arguing that flipping even one seat in Maryland could help determine control of the House in 2026. Moore, who&rsquo;s seeking a second term as governor and is a potential 2028 presidential contender, has tried to frame the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gerrymandering\/\">gerrymandering push <\/a>as an accountability measure against President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I know that history is not going to remember the Trump-Vance administration kindly,&rdquo; Moore recently told state lawmakers as he testified in favor of the proposed map. &ldquo;But to all those who kowtow, or all those who are trying to move the goalposts, for all those who are looking for all the reasons why we should not respond, instead of using your energy to find ways to respond: History will remember you worse.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maryland Republican lawmakers and activist groups, meanwhile, say pro-redistricting Democrats are repeating the same mistakes that led a 2021 gerrymandering effort to be overturned by the courts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a rerun of an unlawful gerrymander that a court already threw out,&rdquo; said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, whose group sued to overturn the last gerrymander. &ldquo;Maryland Democrats appear determined to entrench partisan power at the expense of constitutional limits and voters&rsquo; rights. We are watching these developments closely.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/divisions-and-legal-threats-hit-maryland-democrats-gerrymander\/\" title=\"Divisions and legal threats hit ...&#039; gerrymander\">gerrymandered congressional map drawn<\/a> by Maryland Democrats would apply to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">2026 midterm elections<\/a> but require voter approval this November for the 2028 and 2030 elections. Despite passage by the Maryland House on Monday, the legislation is likely dead on arrival in the state Senate, thanks to Ferguson&rsquo;s opposition.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, right, speaks during a press conference accompanied by Gov. Wes Moore, in Severna Park, Md., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) echoes other Democrats in arguing Maryland should gerrymander because several Republican-led states have redrawn their maps ahead of November. Alsobrooks, who chaired Moore&rsquo;s redistricting commission that green-lighted the new map, said the recent controversy surrounding Trump&rsquo;s deportation agenda was another call to action.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These are not ordinary times. We are watching Americans who have now been slaughtered on the streets of America,&rdquo; Alsobrooks told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, referring to the two deadly shootings of citizens in Minnesota by federal agents. &ldquo;We heard from Marylanders who, I think pretty strongly, have said they want us to do something to make sure that their vote will be counted in these midterm elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he &ldquo;supported the congressional redistricting effort from the start, and I urge everybody to get it done.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson and Moore declined to comment on this story.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maryland&rsquo;s proposed congressional map would extend Rep. Andy Harris&rsquo;s First District, shown in red, across the Chesapeake Bay to favor Democrats. (Photo via Governor&rsquo;s Redistricting Advisory Commission)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Ferguson has called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/miyares-calls-democrats-redistricting-push-a-shocking-power-grab\/\" title=\"Miyares calls ...\u2019 re...ing push a \u2018shocking power grab\u2019\">mid-decade redistricting push &#038;ldquo<\/a>;objectively unconstitutional.&rdquo; The Senate president has also expressed concern that it could open the door to legal scrutiny by the conservative-leaning Maryland Supreme Court of the current map, which was not subjected to court review after it was ordered to be redrawn.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s an outcome Republican lawmakers and Judicial Watch see as a very real possibility that could lead to a 6-2 Democrat vs. Republican split in the state&rsquo;s U.S. House seats. The current split favors Democrats 7-1, and the proposed map would make it 8-0.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, whose office would have to defend the process in court, has not weighed in publicly. His office declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>Redistricting proponents believe the worst-case scenario would be that the new map is again ruled unconstitutional, and the state maintains its current districts ahead of the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The current effort is not about fairness; it&rsquo;s about advancing Wes Moore&rsquo;s presidential aspirations,&rdquo; Harris, whose district would be gerrymandered to stretch across the Chesapeake Bay to favor Democrats, said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;Hakeem Jeffries has given him the order, and he&rsquo;s faithfully obeying.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is among the congressional Democrats pressuring Ferguson, arguing that the party&rsquo;s bid to retake the chamber could be jeopardized by any single seat. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), a member of leadership who&rsquo;s embraced the redistricting wars being waged across the country, has urged Ferguson to either <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3869404\/maryland-senate-president-bill-ferguson-midcycle-redistricting\/\">get on board or be replaced<\/a>. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In neighboring Virginia, Democrats hit a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/divisions-and-legal-threats-hit-maryland-democrats-gerrymander-2\/\" title=\"Divisions and legal threats hit ...&#039; gerrymander\">recent legal snag<\/a> when&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2026\/01\/27\/virginia-redistricting-court-ruling\/\">a judge ruled<\/a>&nbsp;their redistricting effort invalid.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3863824\/democrats-try-to-keep-up-with-republicans-in-national-redistricting-war\/\">DEMOCRATS TRY TO KEEP UP WITH REPUBLICANS IN NATIONAL REDISTRICTING WAR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Moore foreshadowed he would be &ldquo;so angry&rdquo; if his vision fails to become reality in the Old Line State.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If we end up with a Republican House and part of the reason is because Maryland did not move, none of that &mdash; forget politically, right?&rdquo; Moore recently <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/02\/01\/politics\/wes-moore-maryland-democrats-redistricting\">told CNN<\/a>. &ldquo;For my soul, none of that will matter, because it just means that we kowtowed as a state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nMaryland\u2019s bid to redraw congressional maps during the current term\u2014an effort echoing California\u2019s mid-cycle move\u2014faces a wall of Democratic divisions and looming legal challenges from conservatives. Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, is effectively blocking Gov. Wes Moore\u2019s plan to expand Democrats\u2019 influence by creating eight House seats, even though the Maryland House approved the measure. Ferguson argues the proposal raises legal and budgetary risks and could invite court scrutiny, particularly since the current map was redrawn without a court review. Some Democrats defend the move as a response to Republicans redrawing maps in other states, while critics, including Judicial Watch, call it an unlawful power grab. The map would shift Rep. Andy Harris\u2019s district across the Chesapeake Bay to favor Democrats; supporters say it\u2019s needed to counter national dynamics. The dispute carries potential national consequences if it ultimately affects control of the House in 2026. Attorney General Anthony Brown has not publicly weighed in. The controversy mirrors redistricting fights in other states, such as Virginia, where Democrats have recently faced legal setbacks. Moore has warned he would be deeply frustrated if Maryland\u2019s plan fails, signaling that the outcome could affect his broader political ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>55-character version:<br \/>\nMd. redistricting bid blocked by Dem rifts, lawsuits<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2563380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26020744043611.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3685,22850,4784,4837,16985],"class_list":["post-2563379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-gerrymandering","tag-litigation","tag-maryland","tag-redistricting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26020744043611.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563379","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\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2563379"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2563383,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563379\/revisions\/2563383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2563380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2563379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2563379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2563379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}