Maryland lawmakers ask voters to clear the way for a congressional map designed to boost Democrats
The measure passed 96-38 in the House and 32-13 in the Senate, giving voters a say on future congressional map changes.
- On Tuesday, Maryland lawmakers passed a redistricting referendum bill during a special session, with the House voting 96-38 and the Senate 32-13, sending the constitutional amendment to voters in November for final approval.
- Maryland Democrats argued the legislative push acts as a defensive measure against Republican-led states pursuing mid-decade redistricting. House Speaker Joseline Melnyk stated the bill "simply clarifies Maryland law and gives voters the opportunity to decide."
- Del Mark Fisher criticized the measure as "rigging elections" rather than balancing the Constitution, while Del Chris Adams warned it leads to "apathy, voter rejection of the process, and that's dangerous."
- During the two-day special session, Del Tom Hutchinson introduced an amendment proposing a ballot question on whether nine Eastern Shore counties should secede from Maryland, reflecting regional tensions over representation.
- The bill does not redraw congressional lines immediately but establishes that "nothing in the Maryland Constitution provides applicable criteria for the boundaries of a congressional districting plan," granting lawmakers significant future redistricting leeway.
20 Articles
20 Articles
The Maryland House of Delegates advanced a constitutional amendment that could redraw the map of Congress and decide how Baltimore is represented. Voters would have the last word in November.
Maryland House and Senate Pass redistricting amendment bill
Both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly on Tuesday passed a constitutional amendment referendum bill on congressional redistricting. The Maryland Senate vote came more than six hours after the Maryland House approved a constitutional amendment that now goes before voters in November. | BILL TEXT: Read the proposed constitutional amendment If voters approve it, lawmakers could draw a new congressional district map to eliminate the one Repu…
DCCC Chair Statement on Maryland Legislature Sending a Constitutional Amendment to Voters
Following the Maryland legislature’s passage of a constitutional amendment that would, once approved by voters in November, allow the legislature to counter the gerrymandering onslaught by national Republicans, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene released the following statement: “Democrats did not start – nor did we ask for – this mid-decade redistricting fight. But we will finish it. “The decision by the Maryland legislature to ask the voters to weigh i…
Gov. Wes Moore hails Maryland effort paving way for Democrat-friendly map
Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) praised lawmakers Tuesday after the General Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that would overhaul the state’s congressional redistricting process, framing it as a necessary response to Republican-led efforts in other states to redraw congressional maps. The proposal, approved during a rare summer special session, would place before voters in November a constitutional amendment that clarifies how Maryland‘s congre…
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