Maryland’s Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission voted to advance a new “congressional map concept” that could give Democrats control of the state’s eight congressional districts.
The panel voted 3-2 in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday to advance the new map to Maryland’s General Assembly and Gov. Wes Moore (D), according to reports. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) chaired the commission, which included three Democrats to one Republican. The senator lauded the commission’s efforts, noting its transparency and how it “reflected the work of Marylanders.”
“Tonight, the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission voted to recommend a new congressional map concept to the Governor and the General Assembly,” said Alsobrooks. “This recommendation reflects the work of Marylanders — built from public map submissions, shaped by hours of community feedback, and developed through a transparent redistricting process.”
“From the start, our commitment has been simple: put Marylanders in the driver’s seat,” she added. “This process has been conducted in the open, with opportunities for the public to participate, weigh in, and submit their own map proposals for consideration. All Marylanders — regardless of party, background, or zip code — can engage with this process, see the options, and make their voice heard.”
Alsobrooks insisted the redrawing of congressional maps was necessary due to “aggressive” redistricting efforts in other states. She said that the commission’s objective was to ensure that the state is adequately represented in Congress and that the new congressional map illustrates “the will of the people.”
“At a moment when other states are moving aggressively to redraw maps, and when fundamental voting rights protections face renewed threats, Maryland has a responsibility to lead with urgency,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure our congressional delegation reflects the will of the people, protects representation for historically underrepresented communities, and gives Marylanders a Congress that can serve as a real check on this President.”
The proposed map would leave Republicans without any current representation in the state. While many celebrated this potential political reality, not all Democrats supported it. Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) has been a staunch opponent of redrawing the congressional map, labeling such efforts as “objectively unconstitutional.”
“The Governor’s Commission recommended a map today that is objectively unconstitutional and jeopardizes Maryland’s existing map,” said Ferguson. “From the outset, the Senate’s position has been consistent: in this important moment, Maryland cannot risk going backwards by giving the Trump administration another seat or two in Congress from Maryland’s delegation.”
“Further, this map fails the Governor’s own test. It breaks apart more neighborhoods and communities than our existing map, and it fails the constitutional requirement of one person, one vote. We heard from no Boards of Elections,” he added. “We heard nothing from the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, which would have to defend this process and outcome. We heard no testimony to the impact on our election cycle. Ultimately, a flawed process has delivered a flawed product.”
Unsurprisingly, Maryland’s Republicans were also not pleased with the new proposed map. Jason Buckel (R), the state’s House Minority Leader, echoed Ferguson’s sentiments and called the whole thing a “political sham.”
“The Redistricting Commission’s vote today confirmed what we have been saying all along: that this Commission had nothing to do with fairness, nothing to do with the wants and needs of our citizens, and, quite frankly, nothing to do with Maryland,” said Buckel. “Instead, this Commission has everything to do with D.C. partisan politics and the desires of the Democratic National Committee.”
“This Commission was merely a drawn-out political sham with a pre-determined outcome: to rid Maryland of any Republican representation in Congress and disenfranchise voters in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore,” he added. “Nothing drives this home more than their absurd end product.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Wes Moore defended the commission’s work and expressed eagerness in reviewing its suggestions and recommendations.
“I’m looking forward to hearing the conclusion from the redistricting commission for the months of hard work this bipartisan commission has gotten done, and hearing their recommendation and having it go to the General Assembly,” said Moore.
