Maryland lawmakers are getting closer to asking the state’s voters to decide in November whether to clear the way for a new congressional map that would favor Democrats in all eight of the state’s U.S. House districts.On Tuesday, lawmakers in the Democratic-dominated House approved putting an amendment on the ballot to allow the change. The Senate was expected to vote on it later in the day. Sending it to voters requires three-fifths approval of both legislative chambers, who met in a special session to consider the change.In a state where Democrats now occupy seven of the eight House seats, Republicans are calling the effort a blatant power grab.In debate in the House on Tuesday, Republican Delegate Kevin Hornberger told his colleagues: “Just because we can go ultra-partisan doesn’t mean we should go ultra-partisan.” Other Republicans said constituents weren’t behind it and one Democratic lawmaker worried that the change could cost rural parts of the state federal resources if they’re put in the same districts with suburban areas. The measure still passed 96-38.
If the amendment is ultimately approved, it would be part of a rapid reconfiguration of congressional district lines that began last year when President Donald Trump urged Republican-controlled states to adjust their maps to help the party in the 2026 midterm elections. Normally, redistricting happens just once a decade after new Census data is released.Eight states — Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas — have redrawn maps to help Republicans, who could pick up as many as 16 seats due to the redistricting. New maps in California and Utah could give Democrats an advantage in six races.
