Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) is chiming back into the redistricting debate this week after his push to redraw the maps in the state’s last legislative session landed with a thud.
Maryland’s Democratic leadership has been split over redistricting this past year, as state Senate President Bill Ferguson refused to take up the issue in the upper chamber despite Moore’s public insistence that he do so. Although the legislative session ended in April without a new Free State map in play, Moore is renewing his calls for the Democratic gerrymander following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais.
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“We don’t have a choice but to act, particularly when we’re watching the greatest assault on black voter representation around the country that we have seen in generations,” Moore told Politico in a preview of an interview set to be fully released next week.
Democrats across the country have raised alarm bells about their electoral prospects in recent weeks following the Supreme Court’s decision striking down race-based redistricting and the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate Democrats’ newly drawn map in the state. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has vowed to continue Democrats’ redistricting campaigns across the country, urging states such as New York, Maryland, and Illinois to join the gerrymandering fight.
Moore has been urging Democrats in his own state to take action, telling the outlet the Virginia ruling gives Maryland greater urgency to act.
“It’s a five alarm fire for this country,” Moore said. “I think it is the responsibility for Maryland, for our General Assembly, and for every other state who has the option, to say ‘Why should certain states go through a process of determining in mid-decade what their state’s going to do, but then other states are supposed to sit on their hands?'”
Maryland’s state House passed Moore’s proposed congressional map, which would have favored Democrats in all eight districts, nixing the state’s only GOP seat held by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD). But the state senate, under Ferguson, refused to take up the plan, with it dying in committee.
Ferguson explained his reasoning against mid-decade redistricting in October, saying “the legal risks are too high, the timeline for action is dangerous, the downside risk to Democrats is catastrophic, and the certainty of our existing map would be undermined.”
The state senator is up for reelection in 2026 and is facing a primary challenge from small-business owner Bobby LaPin. Moore has not yet endorsed Ferguson.
When Politico asked where Moore stood on his endorsement and Ferguson’s reelection, he responded with, “I think he really knows how much I need for the Senate to takes seriously this moment.”
KEMP CALLS SPECIAL SESSION TO DRAW NEW GEORGIA MAP FOR 2028
This week has been critical for redistricting efforts across the country, with GOP states such as Mississippi and Georgia weighing in.
On Wednesday, Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) announced he would convene a special legislative session to consider redistricting for the 2028 elections. Moore did not mention the idea of a special session in the clip aired Thursday.
