Maryland lawmakers approve redistricting amendment that now heads to voters in November

Maryland’s Democratic lawmakers approved a change to the state constitution Tuesday that will give them more flexibility in drawing congressional districts.

The constitutional amendment will now go to voters for approval in November’s general election.

The final vote, just after 6 p.m., capped a two-day summertime special session that was called as Democratic leaders face continued pressure to help their party gain seats in Congress.

The outcome of the session was never really in doubt: Democrats hold a supermajority that means they can pass anything they want if they stick together.

All Republicans could do was debate their colleagues, offer unsuccessful amendments and try to slow down the process.

Democratic leaders had not been on the same page for most of the past year.

President Donald Trump kicked off a national rush to gerrymander last summer, asking Texas to draw maps that would add more Republicans. Some Maryland Democrats were quick to push for a new map in hopes of ousting the state’s lone Republican congressman, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris.

But Senate President Bill Ferguson and the majority of Democratic senators urged caution. Part of their concern was rooted in a court ruling from 2022 that cited part of the state constitution in striking down a Democratic-friendly map.

The disagreement over redistricting tested relationships and led to tension in Annapolis. Eventually, though, Democratic leaders agreed to seek a change in the state constitution that would give them a better chance to defend future maps in court.

“It was important to correct that court decision,” House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said during a midday press conference.

If voters approve, the constitutional amendment will clarify that requirements for compact districts that take into consideration natural and county boundaries do not apply to congressional districts.

Democrats then would be able to more easily gerrymander the map to disadvantage Harris and Republicans — should they choose to do so in the future.

Some Democrats promoted the constitutional change by saying it was not a guarantee of future gerrymandering. And some suggested that if Democrats have a strong year nationally, they could retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives and redistricting wouldn’t be necessary.

But Democrats also said they’d have an additional tool for responding to what they say are the devastating effects of the Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress.

Republicans countered that Democrats would use the change to eliminate their party’s voice in Congress.

The House of Delegates spent more than two and a half hours debating their final vote on Tuesday morning. Ultimately, it passed 96-38 largely on party lines, with Eastern Shore Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes the only Democrat voting opposed. One day earlier, delegates debated the measure for nearly five hours and rejected 20 Republican amendments.

The action then moved across the hall to the state Senate.

As in the House, Republican senators tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill. Some of their amendments, like creating a redistricting commission, were voted down. Others, including limits on tax increases, were ruled out of order because they were off topic.

But Republicans were working against the clock after the Senate voted to set a time limit for debate on the bill — a maneuver that’s unique to the Senate.

Republicans lamented that the constitutional amendment would enable Democrats to potentially end the career of Harris, whose district includes the Eastern Shore, Cecil and Harford counties and part of Baltimore County.

“If we are truly ‘One Maryland,’ that means the folks in the minority party need to have their voices heard,” said Sen. Jason Gallion, a Republican representing Cecil and Harford counties.

Senate Democrats offered few responses to Republicans.