Top Democrat Urges Maryland Senate President to Allow Redistricting Vote

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warns that opposing a new map could help Republicans win the midterm election.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a top national Democrat, is urging Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson to allow a vote on a new congressional redistricting map. Jeffries warned that Ferguson's opposition to the bill could help Republicans win the midterm election. The House has passed the bill, but it is stalled in the Senate. Ferguson has argued that voters are more concerned about issues like the cost of living and that changing the maps now would disrupt the election timeline.

Why it matters

Redistricting is a politically charged process that can give one party an advantage in elections. After Republican-led states redrew maps in a partisan manner, Maryland's Democratic governor ordered the state's map to be redrawn. The outcome of this dispute could impact the balance of power in Congress.

The details

The new map drawn by the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Commission reshapes the 1st and 3rd Congressional districts in a way that could put Maryland's sole Republican member of Congress at a disadvantage. Both national and state Republicans have said they will file a lawsuit against the new map. Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said the bill would not permanently redraw the districts, but would leave it up to voters to decide whether to revert to the old maps in 2028 and 2030.

  • The House has passed the redistricting bill, but it is currently stalled in the Maryland Senate.
  • The filing deadline for congressional candidates is currently set for February 24, 2026.

The players

Hakeem Jeffries

U.S. House Minority Leader and a top national Democrat.

Bill Ferguson

Maryland Senate President, a Democrat who has opposed the redistricting bill.

Joseline Peña-Melnyk

Maryland House Speaker, a Democrat who has personally lobbied the Senate president to reconsider his opposition to the redistricting bill.

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What they’re saying

“All we are asking Senate President Ferguson to do is allow democracy to prevail. What that means is an up or down vote.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. House Minority Leader (CNN)

“Right now, we must meet the moment.”

— Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Maryland House Speaker (WBAL NewsRadio 1090 AM 101.5 FM)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the new redistricting map to be implemented.

The takeaway

This dispute over redistricting in Maryland highlights the ongoing partisan battles over the redrawing of congressional maps, which can have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress. The outcome could impact the midterm elections and the future political landscape in the state.