Maryland Governor Wes Moore said Wednesday he wants the General Assembly to move forward on new congressional maps after it convenes in January, now that voters have passed Question 3, a ballot measure loosening restrictions on redistricting. Moore said new maps should give Democrats an advantage in all eight districts in response to a GOP-led effort to draw district lines in its favour.
Moore made the remarks as part of his victory lap Wednesday, the day after historic Democratic wins nationally and the passage of Question 3 with 60% of the vote. According to a report by Maryland Matters, Moore said he was ready to engage with lawmakers on redistricting, and told reporters in Mount Vernon that the question's passage meant Maryland could help meet the moment.
Meeting the moment, by Moore's account, should result in maps that give Democrats the advantage in all eight of the state's congressional districts starting in 2028. Republicans currently hold the 1st District seat, occupied by Rep. Andy Harris, who was reelected Wednesday. Moore argued that Donald Trump is not done and that the state needed to act.
Question 3 amends the state constitution to clarify that requirements for compact and contiguous electoral districts apply only to General Assembly districts, not congressional ones, following a 2022 court decision that said those restrictions should apply to congressional districts as well. It also grants the Supreme Court of Maryland original jurisdiction to review redistricting plans.
Legislative leaders welcomed the question's passage, but redistricting did not appear to be a top priority. House Majority Leader Del. David Moon said making mapmaking the legislature's first priority in January would be a big misread when healthcare access and affordability remain the top concerns for Marylanders.
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said through a spokesperson that Question 3 does not require new maps to be drawn but ensures Maryland is on even ground with other states. Senate President Bill Ferguson, who resisted redistricting for much of the year before agreeing to a special session, said Question 3 gives Maryland clear legal standards, but his statement said lowering costs, growing the economy and protecting programs Marylanders rely on would remain top priorities.
Sen. Clarence Lam agreed new maps are necessary, arguing that future years may not be as good for Democrats. However, he said he does not think the map the House passed earlier this year will be the final version, citing concerns that it could have diminished Black representation in the state's congressional delegation by dividing heavily minority districts. Moon said the legislature could approach district lines with a fresh set of eyes, and that he believed Question 3 would alleviate concerns about a map potentially being struck down in court.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The push for new maps in a solidly blue state could serve as a template for Democratic responses to Republican gerrymanders in other parts of the country, particularly if the 2028 presidential race is close.
- The dispute over timing between the governor and legislative leadership highlights a classic tension between seizing a political moment and governing on everyday issues like healthcare.
- The map's treatment of minority-majority districts, raised by Sen. Lam, underscores how partisan gerrymandering can intersect with Voting Rights Act considerations.
Background
Maryland is a reliably Democratic state where Republicans have held only one of eight US House seats, the 1st District covering the Eastern Shore. A 2022 court ruling restricted congressional map-drawing, prompting the push for Question 3 to remove those restrictions. The ballot question's passage gives Democrats the legal green light to pursue a partisan gerrymander of their own, mirroring tools widely used by Republicans in states like Ohio, Florida and Texas. The state House passed a new map earlier this year, but the Senate declined to take it up until the legal path was cleared.
Key Perspectives
Gov. Wes Moore: Says Maryland must immediately draw new maps giving Democrats all eight seats to counter Republican-led gerrymandering in other states.
House Majority Leader Del. David Moon: Argues redistricting should not be the legislature's first priority in January, placing healthcare access and affordability above mapmaking, though he welcomes the clean legal slate the question provides.
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk: Welcomes Question 3's passage but notes it does not require new maps, and says she looks forward to conversations on the best approach.
Senate President Bill Ferguson: Says Question 3 provides clear legal standards but indicated that lowering costs and growing the economy remain the legislature's top priorities.
Sen. Clarence Lam: Agrees that new maps are necessary to take advantage of favorable political conditions, but suggests the map passed earlier this year may need revision to protect minority representation.
What to Watch
- The January legislative session, where Moore will push for maps and leadership will set the agenda.
- Whether a final map is drawn before the 2028 election cycle begins, or if internal Democratic disagreements delay the process.
- The potential for legal challenges, either under the Voting Rights Act or as a partisan gerrymander, given the Supreme Court of Maryland's newly defined role.