(The Center Square) – First-term Democratic Gov. Wes Moore’s bid for a new congressional map in Maryland has died in the state Senate.
The state’s legislative session ended Monday night. With it, a proposal passed in the House of Delegates two months ago remained parked in a Senate committee.
Maryland’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives is 7-1 Democrats. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., is the lone Republican. In the last election, Republicans won a 220-215 majority; today, it’s 217-213 with one independent and four vacancies.
Changes in congressional maps in the middle of the decade began last year in Texas at the urging of second-term Republican President Donald Trump. Florida through a special legislative session starting Monday and Virginia by referendum vote on Tuesday of next week are on deck.
Senate President Bill Ferguson, among the most powerful of Democrats in the state, stood firm in opposition to Moore’s plan. In 2021, a congressional map that could have led to Harris’ seat getting flipped was ruled by a judge “a product of extreme partisan gerrymandering.”
Ferguson said another legal battle and judicial ruling could cost Democrats within the seven seats they have. His chamber is 34-13 Democrats, and full unity was absent on the decision; the House of Delegates is 102-39 majority Democrats.
The map in use today was passed in 2022.
States redraw maps every 10 years after the decennial census. Newly drawn maps approved for 2026 will be in play this November for California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. In Utah, litigation produced a new map.
Litigation is ongoing for maps in Georgia, Louisiana and New York.
Of the states with changes, Republicans have potential for a net gain of three seats. California has the potential to flip five seats to Democrats for a 48-4 representation for the party and Utah one to Democrats cutting into Republicans’ 4-0 representation. For Republicans, Missouri (to 7-1) and North Carolina (to 11-3) could gain one seat each; Ohio two (to 12-3); and Texas five (to 30-7).
