The Maryland House is developing a new congressional map as Senate leaders raise concerns
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Maryland House lawmakers voted Monday to advance a new congressional map backed by Democrats, a move that drew opposition from state Senate leaders who warned it could be politically and legislatively dangerous.
The proposal, approved by the Democratic-controlled House, is designed to reshape Maryland’s Republican-controlled congressional district and could change the balance of state delegates in the US House.
Democrats currently hold seven of Maryland’s eight seats in Congress. Under the new map, party leaders believe they would be in a better position to unseat Republican Rep. Andy Harris and they may claim all eight states.
House leaders moved forward with the plan at the urging of Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who pointed to decades-long redistricting efforts in other states as a reason to reconsider Maryland’s boundaries outside of the regular census cycle.
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Maryland House Majority Leader Del. David Moon, Democrat, speaks during a debate in support of the new congressional map on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
The push comes as President Donald Trump last year encouraged Republican-led states, including Texas, to redraw congressional maps in hopes of improving the GOP’s small House majority.
Del. CT Wilson, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said the changes are needed “to help ensure that these administrations finally have a Congress that puts their powers behind them.”
Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, a Democrat, moderated the debate on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
Republicans opposed to the map focused on the fact that Harris’ district, which includes mostly rural Maryland on the Eastern Shore, would be redrawn to reach across the Chesapeake Bay and take in more Democratic-leaning voters.
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“There is nothing but party politics,” said Del. Jason Buckel, House Minority Leader.
Democratic Del. Marc Korman argued that a similar geographic configuration existed before, noting that the district crossed the bay several times since the 1960s and that Republican candidates – including Harris – won those times.
Maryland Governor, Wes Moore, spoke on social media following the deadly Border Patrol shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Without House approval, Senate President Bill Ferguson has repeatedly warned that targeting Harris’ seat would put Democratic-held districts at risk and invite renewed court challenges.
Republican Del. Jason Buckel, the leader of the Maryland House, speaks out against the new congressional map during a debate on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
Ferguson pointed to the 2021 congressional map that was thrown out by a judge as an example of how aggressive redistricting can backfire. Maryland finally adopted revised limits in 2022 after the lawsuits were dropped.
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The Senate president also warned that reopening the program could disrupt Maryland’s election season, as the filing deadline is Feb. 24 and the June 23 primary, and could leave the final district lines in the hands of the courts.
The debate in Maryland reflects the redistricting battles being played out across the country, as both parties try to gain leverage before the next election cycle. Gov. Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis said he plans to call a special legislative session on the recount in April.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
