A group of prominent Maryland Democrats, including Reps. Steny Hoyer and Jamie Raskin, have sent a detailed four-page letter to the entire Maryland General Assembly, urging state lawmakers to take urgent action on redistricting. The letter emphasizes the necessity of preventing potential gerrymandering by former President Trump, highlighting the national implications of the decision. This call for action is part of a broader effort to protect democratic processes and voting rights. The push for redistricting comes in the context of increasing national pressure, with states like Virginia and New Jersey also taking steps to address the issue.
Despite the growing support for redistricting, the state’s Senate President, Bill Ferguson, has remained a holdout, resisting the effort to redraw maps. His opposition is rooted in concerns about the potential outcomes of new maps, including the risk of legal challenges and the possible loss of Democratic seats. Ferguson’s position is further complicated by the composition of the Maryland Supreme Court, which includes justices appointed by former Republican Governor Larry Hogan. This has raised questions about the court’s potential to strike down new maps, further complicating the redistricting process.
The urgency for action has been intensified by recent developments in other states, where Democrats have successfully implemented redistricting measures to counteract similar efforts by Republicans. Notably, a ballot initiative in California has passed, leading to the redrawing of state lines to gain five liberal-leaning seats, which has increased pressure on Maryland to take similar steps. Governor Wes Moore, a potential 2028 presidential hopeful, has also emphasized the need for Maryland to align with other states in their redistricting efforts, arguing that the state should not be subject to different rules than Republican-led states.
Hoyer and Raskin’s letter directly challenges Ferguson’s stance, arguing that there are established legal doctrines that support redistricting and that the legislature has the constitutional power to address such issues. The letter also aims to energize state lawmakers under Ferguson’s leadership, potentially increasing the stakes of any internal conflicts. By highlighting the costs of the Trump administration’s policies, including the firing of 15,000 Federal employees and furloughs of thousands more, the lawmakers seek to rally support for their redistricting effort, framing it as an urgent necessity to defend American democracy and freedom.