Maryland commission recommends map targeting lone GOP congressman, but Democratic Senate leader opposes plan
A commission convened by Gov. Wes Moore recommended a congressional map adding Democratic areas to Rep. Andy Harris’s district, aiming to give Democrats all eight seats amid internal opposition.
Overview
Who: Governor Wes Moore’s commission, chaired by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, proposed a new map that would redraw Rep. Andy Harris’s Eastern Shore district to include Annapolis and DC suburbs.
What: The recommended map would shift Democratic territory into the 1st District, potentially flipping Maryland’s lone Republican-held U.S. House seat and creating an all-Democrat delegation.
Where and when: The commission voted Tuesday; the proposal now moves to Maryland’s Democratic-controlled Legislature with a filing deadline of Feb. 24 and primary on June 23.
Why: Moore and national Democrats view mid-decade redistricting as retaliation against GOP-drawn maps elsewhere and a way to protect voting rights and Democratic representation.
How and opposition: State Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat on the commission, calls the map legally risky and criticizes the process; lawmakers debate legislative approval and a possible constitutional amendment.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the story neutrally: they quote both proponents (Moore, Alsobrooks, Lam) and opponents (Sen. Ferguson), include procedural facts (filing deadlines, possible amendment), and attribute heated language ("Partisan Republican hacks," "objectively unconstitutional") to sources rather than endorsing it. Coverage balances policy context with competing political arguments.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The map redraws the 1st District, currently held by Republican Rep. Andy Harris, to stretch from the Eastern Shore across the Chesapeake Bay into Democratic-leaning Anne Arundel and Howard counties, including Annapolis and DC suburbs, to favor Democrats.
History
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