Maryland Senate President Rejects Mid-Cycle Redistricting Over Legal Risks

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has decided against pursuing mid-cycle congressional redistricting despite pressure from some Democrats and the state's Democratic governor, citing high legal risks and the potential for catastrophic political consequences. Ferguson warned that redrawing the state's congressional map before the 2026 midterms could lead to new legal challenges, undermine the existing map's certainty, and potentially backfire by prompting Republican-led states to redistrict aggressively as well, negating any Democratic gains. This stance contrasts with moves in other states like California and Virginia, where Democrats seek to redraw maps to their advantage, and Republican-led states such as Texas and North Carolina, which have redrawn maps at President Trump's urging to bolster GOP representation. Ferguson also acknowledged the political and ethical complexities, highlighting the hypocrisy of national Democrats advocating for fair maps in red states while pushing for partisan maps in blue states like Maryland. Despite Democrats holding a supermajority in Maryland and controlling most of its congressional seats, Ferguson emphasized the risks outweigh the benefits, effectively ending discussions about redistricting until after the next census. The decision has drawn praise from Maryland Republicans who argue that redistricting to eliminate the state's sole Republican congressional seat would disenfranchise a significant portion of voters.