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.
Link in bio to see what your elected representative thinks about redistricting.
Article by Brenda Wintrode and Madeleine O’Neill.
Video by Krishna Sharma and Brenda Wintrode.
