Maryland Congressional Redistricting Challenge (Wheatley)
Lindsay Wheatley, et al. vs. Maryland State Board of Elections, et al.
An anti-voting lawsuit seeking to block a proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting from appearing on the November ballot.
Background
A Maryland voter and four Republican members of the Maryland General Assembly filed a lawsuit in state court challenging a proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting from being placed on the ballot in November. Plaintiffs assert the proposed amendment will eliminate constitutional protections against gerrymandering and “deceive voters into surrendering their fundamental constitutional rights.” Plaintiffs also argue the General Assembly violated state laws regulating the timeline and other statutory requirements in their attempt to add the proposed amendment to the November ballot. The lawsuit challenges the proposed amendment as a violation of the Maryland Constitution and state election law, and seeks to block the proposed amendment from being placed on the November ballot.
Why It Matters
Gov. Wes Moore (D) called this special session directly in response to President Donald Trump’s redistricting push in Republican-led states. The proposed amendment does not establish a new congressional map, but gives Maryland voters the opportunity to eliminate constitutional obstacles that could open a path for the legislature to counter Republican gerrymanders enacted across the country for the 2028 election.
Latest Updates
- Sept. 3, 2026: The Maryland Supreme Court heard arguments, and reversed the lower court’s Aug. 26 order, ruling that the redistricting measure will appear on the November ballot.
- Aug. 28, 2026: The court granted plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, blocking the state from putting Question 3 on the ballot, and stayed the order pending appeal. Defendants appealed to the state supreme court.
- Aug. 27, 2026: The court will hold a hearing.
- Aug. 21, 2026: Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment.
- Aug. 12, 2026: Plaintiffs filed a motion for a temporary restraining order.
- Aug. 10, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.