Maryland Democrats Push Forward With Redistricting, Despite Critics

Maryland is taking new steps toward redistricting in 2026, with a state committee now soliciting congressional map proposals and engaging the public. 

Top state lawmakers previously rejected the idea of redrawing the state’s congressional districts to counter President Donald Trump’s nationwide push to gerrymander in the GOP’s interest. 

The committee’s moves follow similar efforts in California and Virginia aimed at countering the GOP’s gerrymandered gains in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina. Democrats currently hold seven of Maryland’s eight congressional seats. 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced the creation of the redistricting commission in November, arguing it was a necessary move to offset Trump’s effort to gerrymander Republican control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. 

“I think gerrymandering is abhorrent in theory,” Moore said in an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen shortly after announcing the plan. “But the reality is I don’t live in the theoretical…I live in the reality right now that Donald Trump is trying to rig the system right in front of our faces.” 

The commission is chaired by U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), who said Thursday the group met to discuss its path forward and “decided to continue our work to recommend a congressional map to the Governor and the General Assembly.”

The commission is now requesting map proposals from the public and will hold two additional public meetings to gather feedback, Alsobrooks said Thursday.

“At a moment when other states are moving aggressively to redraw maps – and with some already signaling they want the Supreme Court to weaken or effectively nullify key protections in the Voting Rights Act – Maryland cannot afford to sit on the sidelines,” Alsobrooks said in a statement. “We have a responsibility to move forward so the next Congress reflects the will of the people and can serve as a real check on this President.” 

Critics blasted the commission for meeting in private Thursday, including state Senate President Bill Ferguson (D), who has repeatedly made his opposition to redistricting known. Ferguson was appointed by Moore to serve on the commission.

The League of Women Voters Maryland said in a statement it was “disturbed” by the commission’s private meeting.

“There was no notice of today’s meeting; it was not streamed for public viewing. The Commission has not shared future meeting dates or even an outline of a process or tools for people to contribute to the development of meaningful and fair maps,” said Nikki Tyree, executive director of the League of Women Voters Maryland.

The commission previously held five meetings on redistricting in November and December, according to its website.

It has been unclear whether Maryland would proceed with a redistricting push, particularly after Indiana Senate Republicans delivered a major blow to Trump’s agenda by rejecting his gerrymander earlier this month. 

In a podcast interview, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said Ferguson should reverse his opposition to redistricting if Indiana passed its gerrymander. But Hoosiers defied the president instead.

Still, Republicans have more redistricting up their sleeves in 2026. Florida Republicans have signaled they will launch a mid-decade redraw – despite the state’s ban on partisan and racial gerrymandering, passed by voters in 2010.