Some of the country’s most powerful Democrats have pressured, cajoled and pleaded with the leader of Maryland’s Senate, trying unsuccessfully to force a vote on new congressional boundary maps as both parties jostle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives in this year’s midterm elections.

Maryland’s move would gerrymander eight Democratic-majority districts and likely push out the state’s lone Republican member of Congress: Rep. Andy Harris. Harris’ First Congressional District includes the entire Eastern Shore, Harford County and parts of Baltimore County.

Critics of Senate President Bill Ferguson have said he’s blocking an important strategic play for Democrats nationally; Ferguson, for his part, has said the move likely won’t pass legal scrutiny and that his members don’t favor it.

A majority of Maryland’s Senate Democrats have stayed quiet on whether the state should redraw its congressional lines, a sign of how politically fraught the issue has become, and allowed Ferguson to declare that he has their support.

The Banner surveyed all 47 senators to get their position, and found that the bill to change the maps would fail if brought to a vote today.

The bill, which includes a constitutional amendment, would need 29 votes to pass. Ten Democrats and 12 Republicans said they opposed the bill.

Of the remaining 24 Democrats, five said yes — they want the state to redistrict — and 19 did not choose a clear position.

What did those 19 say? Ten responded with “no comment,” while three did not respond to multiple inquiries. Six Democrats avoided a “yes” or “no” answer, instead explaining their stances, which included this week’s deadline for candidates to file for office.

The Banner asked each senator two questions: Are you in favor of redistricting now? Would you like to see the House-passed redistricting bill receive a Senate vote?

Here’s a breakdown of their answers listed by county. If you’re not sure which senator represents you, you can look it up by your home address.

Anne Arundel County

Sen. Pam Beidle, Anne Arundel County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? The chair of the Senate Finance Committee declined to answer the question and said she’s heard more from constituents about the rising costs of living, their grocery bills, energy and health care affordability.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? She declined to comment.

Sen. Dawn Gile, Anne Arundel County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. Gile said she supports the Senate president’s position.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? She said she supports the Senate president’s position.

Sen. Shaneka Henson, Anne Arundel County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No comment.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? A floor vote “would be great,” she said.

Sen. Bryan Simonaire, Anne Arundel County Republican

Simonaire declined to comment.

Baltimore

Sen. Dalya Attar, Baltimore Democrat

Attar did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Senate President Bill Ferguson, Baltimore Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. Ferguson argued that even an attempt to seize Maryland’s eight House seats could backfire. A judge could overrule the map and hand more districts to Republicans.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. “We don’t have a habit in the Senate of moving forward things that don’t have an opportunity,” Ferguson told reporters earlier this month.

Sen. Antonio Hayes, Baltimore Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. “It’s dead.” He said at first he wanted to see the maps.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. “It’s too late,” he said, to move a map and give the board of elections enough time to make the changes needed to run an election.

Sen. Cory McCray, Baltimore Democrat

McCray did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Baltimore and Baltimore County

Sen. Mary Washington, a Democrat representing Baltimore and Baltimore County

Should Maryland redistrict? No. “This seems incredibly reactive, and really that’s not necessarily the best way to make sure that things are being done in the public interest,” Washington said, adding that efforts would be better spent on winning races in Maryland and elsewhere.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. “Sometimes it’s not the time,” she said.

Baltimore County

Sen. Benjamin Brooks, Baltimore County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. Maryland only has eight seats. He says it would not be representative to take away that one seat for the other party.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? Brooks didn’t want to take a position. But if it comes up, it comes up, he said.

Sen. Shelly Hettleman, Baltimore County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? “I support it.”

Should it receive a full Senate vote? Yes, but there are other, more pressing issues facing the Senate. “I am respectful of the Senate’s process and recognize that a number of my colleagues don’t feel the same way,” she said.

Sen. Carl Jackson, Baltimore County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “I stand in alignment with the Senate President.”

Sen. Charles Sydnor, Baltimore County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. “What’s the purpose?” he asked. Sydnor has backed Ferguson’s position since the beginning. He also said it’s up to Democratic congressional candidates to give voters a reason to vote for them, adding that Trump’s unpopular policies should only help Democrats win races.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? He pointed to the process that needs to play out.

Sen. Johnny Ray Salling, Baltimore County Republican

Should Maryland redistrict? No. “I don’t think there’s a need for it,” he said.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. Not if the map is “gerrymandered” the way it is.

Baltimore and Carroll counties

Sen. Chris West, Republican representing Baltimore and Carroll counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No.

Baltimore and Harford counties

Sen. J.B. Jennings, Republican representing Baltimore and Harford counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. Allowing every bill to get a Senate vote could make for bad policy decisions being voted into law. He said he wants Senate leadership “to manage the flow of legislation responsibly.”

Calvert and St. Mary’s counties

Sen. Jack Bailey, Republican representing Calvert and St. Mary’s counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “Makes no difference to me. It’s a terrible idea.”

Carroll and Frederick counties

Sen. Justin Ready, Republican representing Carroll and Frederick counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. “Lots of bills don’t get a vote.”

Sen. William Folden, Frederick County Republican

Should Maryland redistrict? No. Folden said he was “firmly opposed.”

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No.

Sen. Karen Lewis Young, Frederick County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. “I understand this is a very emotional decision, that Maryland wants desperately to fight back against the Trump administration and his pressure on red states to redistrict, but we have to balance that emotional desire with a rational assessment of the opportunity versus the risks.” Lewis Young said she believes the proposed map is probably unconstitutional and that redistricting this late in an election year would cause confusion among voters.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. “I don’t think the votes are there. We don’t bring bills to the floor when we don’t have sufficient votes.”

Charles County

Sen. Arthur Ellis, Charles County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? Yes. Ellis said his constituents want to see a vote on redistricting.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? Yes. Ellis staged a one-man protest on the Senate floor in February, declaring he would not mark his attendance in the chamber until the redistricting bill was brought for a vote.

Eastern Shore counties

Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, Republican representing Somerset, Worcester and Wicomico counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No.

Sen. Stephen Hershey, Republican representing Kent, Queen Anne’s, Cecil and Caroline counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “I’d like to see it go through the legislative process and see a vote in (the Rules Committee) to kill it.” Hershey said he wants the Senate to be able to move on from the issue.

Sen. Johnny Mautz, Republican representing Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico counties

Should Maryland redistrict? “Hell no.”

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “It’s a bad idea. It’s ironic that people talk about democracy and in the same breath talk about gerrymandering.”

Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties

Sen. Mike McKay, Republican representing Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No. “Maryland policy should be dictated by Marylanders not by a national political party.”

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. “If it comes out it comes out.”

Harford County

Sen. Mary-Dulany James, Harford County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No comment.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “I believe the Senate President is very, very sure that this is an unwise course. ... I respect him and agree.”

Harford and Cecil counties

Sen. Jason Gallion, Republican representing Harford and Cecil counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No. Gallion said he’s “with the Senate President.”

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “I would kind of like to see it get voted down (in the Senate Rules committee, where it has been parked for weeks) and just be done with it.”

Howard County

Sen. Guy Guzzone, Howard County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict now? The chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee said he was “staying focused on the things we can accomplish” and declined to answer yes or no.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? Declined to answer yes or no.

Howard and Anne Arundel counties

Sen. Clarence Lam, Democrat representing Howard and Anne Arundel counties

Should Maryland redistrict? Yes. Lam said redistricting is about putting guardrails on an “out of control” Republican-led federal government. Ensuring Democrats take back the House means accountability, including in Maryland where 25,000 people have lost federal jobs and tariffs have caused prices to skyrocket.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? Yes.

Howard and Montgomery counties

Sen. Katie Fry Hester, Democrat representing Howard and Montgomery counties

Hester declined to comment.

Montgomery County

Sen. Brian Feldman, Montgomery County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? Did not answer yes or no. He said there are practical matters to consider, such as the fast-approaching congressional candidate filing deadline.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? Did not answer yes or no.

Sen. Cheryl Kagan, Montgomery County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. Kagan has backed Ferguson from the beginning.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No. She added that it was “absurd” to consider pushing back the congressional candidate filing deadline to pass new maps. Kagan is the vice chair of a Senate committee which reviews state election laws.

Sen. Nancy King, Montgomery County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? No. She agreed with Ferguson’s position.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? No.

Sen. Benjamin Kramer, Montgomery County Democrat

Kramer did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Sen. Sara Love, Montgomery County Democrat

Love declined to comment.

Sen. Will Smith, Montgomery County Democrat

Smith declined to comment.

Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher, Montgomery County Democrat

Waldstreicher said he appreciated the question but did not answer it.

Sen. Craig Zucker, Montgomery County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? Zucker did not give a yes or no answer to either question. “My understanding is a majority of the Senate Democratic caucus is not for redistricting,” he said.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “Right now our priority is affordability. We’ve got other things we’re focused on.”

Prince George’s County

Sen. Malcolm Augustine, Prince George’s County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? Augustine did not answer yes or no. He said he has not heard from constituents pushing him to redistrict. They are asking him to help pass measures that would lower their daily costs of living, such as energy. He’s also getting calls asking how the state will protect residents from federal immigration agents.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? He declined to answer yes or no, but said, “I will only act when it is time for me to act.”

Sen. Joanne Benson, Prince George’s County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? Yes. Benson said she backed the governor’s position. “Whatever he proposes that’s what I’m supporting,” she said.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? Yes, but only after it comes out of the Senate Rules Committee.

Sen. Nick Charles, Prince George’s County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? He said he was unsure about his answer, and said there was “a lot to consider” on all sides of a complex issue.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? “I don’t know yet,” he said, as he walked into the House of Delegates to confer with a colleague.

Sen. C. Anthony Muse, Prince George’s County Democrat

Muse’s staff said he could not be reached for comment.

Sen. Alonzo Washington, Prince George’s County Democrat

Washington declined to answer the questions, saying, “You won’t get anything from me.”

Sen. Ron Watson, Prince George’s County Democrat

Should Maryland redistrict? Yes.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? He did not answer this question but said, “If it comes to the floor I’m voting for it.”

Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties

Sen. Jim Rosapepe, Democrat representing Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties

Rosapepe declined to comment.

Prince George’s, Charles and Calvert counties

Sen. Kevin Harris, Democrat representing Prince George’s, Charles and Calvert counties

Harris declined to comment.

Washington and Frederick counties

Sen. Paul Corderman, Republican representing Washington and Frederick counties

Should Maryland redistrict? No. “I am against gerrymandering,” he said, adding that’s how he sees the current map.

Should it receive a full Senate vote? He deferred to the Senate president.

Banner reporter Pamela Wood contributed to this story.