Governor Wes Moore Signs Maryland Redistricting Ballot Measure

Governor Wes Moore signed a constitutional amendment on Wednesday that places the issue of congressional redistricting on the November ballot. The amendment proposes shifting the criteria for drawing future congressional districts from state constitutional standards, which require districts to be compact and follow jurisdictional boundaries, to federal constitutional standards.

If voters approve the change, Maryland Democrats could pursue a new map for the 2028 elections. This shift could potentially eliminate the state's only Republican congressional seat. Moore described the move as a response to efforts by the Trump administration to weaken voting rights and redraw maps in other states.

Republicans have criticized the measure as a politically motivated attempt to remove state protections. Congressman Andy Harris challenged the legality of the amendment and suggested the move will be contested in the Maryland Supreme Court, claiming the process took shortcuts.