Maryland Governor’s Bid to Redraw House Map Stalls as Senate Blocks 8‑0 Plan
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Moore’s Redistricting Bill Clears House, Targets Andy Harris The governor introduced legislation to replace Maryland’s single Republican congressional district with an all‑Democratic map, aiming to unseat Rep. Andy Harris. The bill passed the 141‑member House of Delegates on Jan. 30, 2026, and is slated for a statewide ballot in November 2026, remaining effective until a post‑2030 census map is drawn. Moore argues that failing to act would leave the state “kowtowed” and cost Democrats a crucial seat in the U.S. House [1].
Senate President Ferguson Halts Vote, Cites Legal Risks Senate President Bill Ferguson announced he will not schedule a vote on the proposal, warning that an 8‑0 Democratic map could be struck down by courts after the 2021 Supreme Court decision on partisan gerrymandering. He cautioned that a legal defeat might produce a 6‑2 outcome, preserving a Republican seat. Ferguson’s block leaves the Senate without a chance to consider the plan before the Feb. 1 filing deadline [1].
Democratic Senate Support Falls Short of Required Majority Maryland’s 47‑member Senate needs 24 votes to approve the redistricting plan, but internal counts show only ten or eleven Democratic senators backing Moore’s effort. With 34 Democrats in the chamber, the shortfall reflects reluctance to pursue an overtly partisan map. The stalemate persists as the filing deadline looms, threatening the governor’s timeline [1].
National Implications and High‑Profile Pressure on Moore National Democratic strategists view Maryland’s lone Republican seat as pivotal for maintaining a House majority, especially after recent losses in other states. Actor George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey have publicly urged Moore to consider a presidential run, adding media attention to his redistricting push. Parallel resistance in Indiana’s Senate to former President Trump’s redistricting agenda underscores intra‑party pushback against national party directives [1].
Timeline
2021 – The U.S. Supreme Court halts a similar partisan gerrymander, creating a legal precedent that fuels current concerns about Maryland’s proposed map [1].
Sep 2025 – Actor George Clooney hosts Governor Wes Moore on his yacht off Italy and urges him to run for president; Oprah Winfrey also speaks at Moore’s 2022 inauguration, adding national pressure to his redistricting agenda [1].
Nov 2025 – Governor Wes Moore establishes a redistricting advisory commission to design a mid‑decade congressional map targeting Rep. Andy Harris [3].
Jan 21, 2026 – The commission meets behind closed doors and forwards a new congressional map that adds Democratic‑leaning Annapolis and northern D.C. suburbs to Harris’s 1st District, aiming to flip the seat [2][3].
Jan 21, 2026 – Maryland GOP chairwoman Nicole Beus Harris denounces the commission’s proposal as an “extremely gerrymandered, unconstitutional map” and vows to challenge it in court [3].
Jan 21, 2026 – Senate President Bill Ferguson warns the plan could be unconstitutional and cites the 2021 Supreme Court decision, cautioning that courts might strike it down [1].
Jan 21, 2026 – Analysts note the draft could give Democrats an eighth House seat, potentially wiping out Rep. Andy Harris, who has served since 2011 [3].
Feb 1, 2026 – Governor Wes Moore pushes the redistricting bill through the House of Delegates, declaring that failing to act would leave Maryland “kowtowed” and cost Democrats a seat; the plan is slated for a 2026 ballot proposition that would remain in effect until after the 2030 census [1].
Feb 1, 2026 – Senate President Bill Ferguson blocks the 8‑0 Democratic map, arguing it risks a 6‑2 outcome and could be struck down, keeping the Senate from voting as the February filing deadline looms [1].
Feb 2026 (future) – The proposal must win approval from both the Maryland House and Senate before appearing on the November 2026 ballot, where voters will decide its fate ahead of the 2026 midterm elections [1].
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