Maryland Calls Special Session to Amend Congressional Redistricting Rules

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk have scheduled a special legislative session from August 3-5 in Annapolis to consider a constitutional amendment regarding congressional redistricting. The effort, supported by Wes Moore, aims to establish a new legal framework for the 2028 elections following a 2022 court ruling on district compactness and a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais that narrowed the Voting Rights Act.

If the General Assembly approves the amendment with a three-fifths vote in both chambers, it will proceed to a public referendum on November 3. The move follows a pressure campaign by Governor Moore and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to redraw boundaries. The proposed changes primarily target the state's sole Republican-held congressional seat in western Maryland, currently held by Andy Harris.

Republican leaders have condemned the session as a partisan power play intended to erase the state's only GOP voice in Washington. Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. and House Minority Leader Jason C. Buckel argue the government is ignoring affordability issues and skyrocketing energy bills to pursue political games. Republican lawmakers intend to introduce alternative legislation regarding vehicle fees and energy costs during the session.