Maryland Senate Democrats Weigh Redistricting Amendment After 2021 8-0 Map Was Ruled Invalid
Updated
Updated · WYPR · May 22
Maryland Senate Democrats Weigh Redistricting Amendment After 2021 8-0 Map Was Ruled Invalid
8 articles · Updated · WYPR · May 22
June 23 is the target date for Senate Democrats to begin drafting a constitutional amendment that would clear legal barriers to a new congressional map in Maryland.
Bill Ferguson said the push follows the Supreme Court’s late-April move weakening the Voting Rights Act, which he says changed both the legal and political landscape as Southern states revisit Black-majority districts.
The amendment would revise Article III, Section 4 of Maryland’s constitution, the provision a judge used in 2022 to strike down a Democratic 8-0 congressional map as an extreme partisan gerrymander.
To reach voters in November, the General Assembly would need a special session by the end of July and at least 28 Senate votes; Ferguson said support inside the 34-member Democratic caucus is still uncertain.
Wes Moore welcomed Ferguson’s shift but said talks should include an immediate map, exposing a split over how fast Maryland should join the national pre-2026 redistricting fight.
With federal voting rights weakened, how will Maryland's new maps ensure minority communities retain their voice?
How has one Supreme Court ruling on 'intent' reshaped the fight for fair election maps across the country?
Is amending a state constitution a necessary strategy for fair representation or a risky move in a new legal era?
Maryland’s 2026 Redistricting Failure: Legal Barriers, Political Divisions, and the Future of Congressional Maps
Overview
In early 2026, Maryland Democrats launched a major legislative effort to change how congressional districts are drawn, aiming for a constitutional amendment that would give them more flexibility and potentially strengthen their party’s advantage. Alongside this, they pushed an amended Senate bill (SB5) to change how legislative vacancies are filled, proposing special elections instead of party appointments. Del. Kris Fair championed this move, saying it would let voters decide. Despite these efforts, strong opposition led to the failure of both the redistricting attempt and SB5, leaving current district boundaries and vacancy rules unchanged for the 2026 elections.