Democratic-controlled Maryland could be jumping into the national redistricting surge, state Senate President Bill Ferguson said Friday.
He said the Senate intends to pass a constitutional amendment that would pave the way for a Democratic-leaning map and present it to voters in November, meaning the General Assembly would have to pass it in a special session this summer to put it on the ballot.
Mr. Ferguson said that following the primary election at the end of June, he plans to convene Senate Democrats to discuss the constitutional amendment.
The Office of the Governor told Baltimore’s WYPR it does not believe a special session has to wait until after the June 23 primary.
Mr. Ferguson told the radio station that the “ground has shifted” after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, a ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act and is prompting states across the country to redraw their congressional districts.
“It has changed the legal landscape, and it’s changed the political landscape,” he said. “This is an escalation of significant proportions, and so we are having conversations amongst members of the Senate about what are the best options for Maryland moving forward.”
His new perspective on redrawing his state’s House districts is a 180-degree turn from his previously unwavering opposition.
The state House of Delegates approved a map in February that could eliminate the state’s last Republican-held U.S. House seat. But even amid pressure from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Mr. Ferguson did not bring it to the Senate floor for a vote, citing potential legal challenges. The lower chamber also passed the constitutional amendment that would give Democrats their gerrymandered map.
Mr. Ferguson does still believe, however, that the Maryland Constitution would have to be amended before a new congressional map could be drawn.
House Republicans frowned upon the growing likelihood of a special session this summer to advance a new congressional map.
“Eliminating any fair chance for Maryland’s Republican and independent voters to have their views represented in our federal government is simply wrong — and it will only result in continuing the vicious cycle of politicians eliminating any diverse or opposing voices until the country is fully divided into two camps,” House Minority Leader Jason Buckel said in a statement Saturday. “That’s not what voters want, or what our citizens need.”
He said what is “more disappointing” is Mr. Moore indicating that the congressional map should be changed after the primary election and before the late July deadline to prepare ballots for the general election.
“That would be chaotic for Maryland voters and an unprecedented, blatant effort at election manipulation,” Mr. Buckel added.
