Maryland Democrats reject governor's push to redraw congressional map

Proposal to boost Democrats' chances in midterms dies as legislative session ends

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic painting of the Maryland State House in Annapolis, rendered in a warm, cinematic style with deep shadows and diagonal sunlight, capturing the quiet drama of the political struggle over congressional redistricting.The Maryland State House in Annapolis stands as a silent witness to the partisan battle over redistricting that has unfolded within its halls.Annapolis Today

Maryland Democrats have rejected an effort by Gov. Wes Moore to redraw the state's congressional map in a bid to boost his party's chances in the midterm elections. The proposal, which aimed to counter redistricting efforts by former President Donald Trump in other states, died as the state legislative session ended, a casualty of internal party disagreements.

Why it matters

The failed attempt in Maryland is part of a broader national battle over redistricting, with Republicans and Democrats jockeying to redraw congressional boundaries to their advantage. While Trump has encouraged GOP-led states to redraw maps, Democrats are also pushing for changes in states they control, like Virginia. The outcome in Maryland could have implications for the balance of power in the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives.

The details

The Maryland Senate left the bill in committee, with Democrats concerned it could backfire under judicial review. Gov. Moore, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, had put his clout behind the effort, but was unable to prevail on the heavily Democratic state Senate to approve the new map. The governor had compared Trump's push for Republican-friendly redistricting to discriminatory housing practices, saying the former president and his allies 'are doing everything in their power to silence the voices and trying to eliminate Black leadership — elected leadership — all over this country.'

  • The Maryland legislative session ended late Monday night, officially killing the proposal.
  • In January, Gov. Moore told lawmakers the state needed to act to counter what he called 'political redlining' by Trump in other states.
  • The Maryland House passed legislation containing a new map in early February, but the measure ran into opposition in the state Senate.

The players

Wes Moore

The Democratic governor of Maryland who put his clout behind the effort to redraw the state's congressional map.

Bill Ferguson

The Democratic state Senate president who refused to budge on the redistricting proposal despite pressure from Gov. Moore and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Donald Trump

The former Republican president who has encouraged GOP-led states to redraw congressional boundaries to favor Republicans.

Andy Harris

The lone Republican member of Maryland's U.S. House delegation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is not a political game to me. I don't look at this as some kind of political talking point. I look at the fact that I think Donald Trump is actively trying to manipulate and change the rules around the November election and beyond because he knows he cannot win on his policies.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland

“Don't play with me. And if the rest of the country is going to have this conversation about mid-decade redistricting, then so should Maryland, and so should every other state. Because until it is done nationally, we have to make sure that this election is not stolen right before our face so this pain is made permanent.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland

What’s next

Republicans have scheduled a special legislative session in Florida next week to redraw congressional districts, while Democrats are asking voters to approve a redistricting referendum in Virginia.

The takeaway

The failed attempt in Maryland highlights the ongoing national battle over redistricting, with both parties jockeying to redraw congressional boundaries to their advantage. The outcome could have significant implications for the balance of power in the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives.