Maryland redistricting panel approved maps. General Assembly to consider

Mennatalla Ibrahim, Baltimore Sun on Jan 20, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Maryland’s Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission on Tuesday voted to recommend a new congressional map to Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly, adding fire to an already contentious debate. The General Assembly will decide whether to approve the congressional maps, despite staunch opposition from the Senate’s top Democrat.

The recommendation was announced by commission chair U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat, who said the proposed map was shaped by public submissions, community feedback and what she described as a transparent process. “This recommendation reflects the work of Marylanders — built from public map submissions, shaped by hours of community feedback, and developed through a transparent redistricting process,” Alsobrooks said in a statement Tuesday evening.

The commission’s action comes as redistricting battles intensify nationally, with both Democrats and Republicans in several states moving to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 elections. Alsobrooks framed Maryland’s effort as a response to Republicans’ efforts and to what she described as renewed threats to voting rights, saying the goal was to ensure the state’s congressional delegation reflects voters and protects representation for historically underrepresented communities.

The proposed map would significantly alter Maryland’s lone Republican-held district, which is represented by Rep. Andy Harris. If the map is approved by the General Assembly, Harris’ district would be redrawn to stretch across the Chesapeake Bay from the Eastern Shore into Anne Arundel and Howard counties, potentially adding more Democrat voters to his district.

House Minority Leader Jason Buckel said the vote confirmed Republican claims that the commission ignored fairness and community interests in favor of national Democratic politics. He said the map would disenfranchise voters in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore. House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy called the proposal another example of aggressive gerrymandering in Maryland, saying the commission’s work distracted from more urgent issues such as budget deficits, rising utility costs and failures in state services.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey, who represents the Eastern Shore, is one of the GOP lawmakers sponsoring the Fair Districts Act, which seeks to promote more competitive congressional maps and oppose mid-cycle redistricting. Hershey emphasized that the bill acts as a protective measure, meaning it was introduced in case the commission redraws congressional maps during the session.

But the proposal has drawn criticism not only from Republicans, but also from Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat and member of the commission, who said the map is unconstitutional and could jeopardize Maryland’s existing congressional boundaries. “The Governor’s Commission recommended a map today that is objectively unconstitutional and jeopardizes Maryland’s existing map,” Ferguson said in a statement. He said the proposal violates the constitutional requirement of equal population among districts and said the commission failed to hear from key stakeholders, including local boards of elections and the state attorney general’s office. “Ultimately, a flawed process has delivered a flawed product,” Ferguson said, adding that the state Senate would remain focused this session on affordability, economic growth and protecting Maryland residents from federal actions.

Alsobrooks said the commission’s vote does not end public input, urging Marylanders to continue reviewing the proposed map and sharing feedback as the General Assembly debates whether to adopt it.

Brian Frosh, a member of the commission and the former Maryland attorney general and Maryland senator, told The Baltimore Sun that the state had to do what it could during a time when President Donald Trump “is trying to be a dictator and the other branches of government have ceded their power.”

Frosh added that the governor’s bill on redistricting could very well die in the General Assembly, given Ferguson’s opposition. “I think that’s the most likely outcome,” he said. “But we have to try.”

Harris could not be reached for comment before deadline.

_____

(Jean Marbella and Tinashe Chingarande contributed to this report.)

_____