Maryland House Approves Congressional Redistricting Constitutional Amendment

The Maryland House of Delegates gave preliminary approval to House Bill 2100 on August 4, 2026, in a 98-36 vote along party lines. The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to set new standards for congressional districts, specifically clarifying that requirements for districts to be compact and follow natural boundaries apply only to General Assembly districts, not congressional ones. This move aims to overturn a 2022 decision by Judge Lynne Battaglia that struck down a 2021 map.

Wes Moore and Senate President Bill Ferguson framed the special session as a necessary response to Republican redistricting efforts in other states and a way to resolve legal uncertainty. If passed by a three-fifths vote in both the House and Senate, the amendment will appear on the November 3 general election ballot. Proponents, including Representative Jamie Raskin, argue the change is necessary to revive redistricting efforts that could potentially help Democrats gain a U.S. House seat by 2028.

Republicans condemned the initiative as a power grab. During nearly four hours of debate, they proposed 20 amendments, including a call for a citizen-led redistricting body and a secession vote for nine Eastern Shore counties, though all were defeated. House Minority Leader Jason Buckel and Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. criticized the process as a partisan effort to disenfranchise rural voters and limit public witness testimony.