Maryland pushes constitutional amendment for partisan congressional redistricting

Maryland lawmakers convened a special session to consider a constitutional amendment that would let the Democratic‑controlled General Assembly redraw the state’s U.S. House districts. The proposal requires a three‑fifths vote in both the House and Senate and, if passed, would be placed on the November 3 ballot for voter approval.

The House approved the amendment by a 96‑38 vote; the Senate is expected to follow. Supporters say the change is needed after a 2022 court ruling struck down a map that crossed the Chesapeake Bay. Critics, including Republican Rep. Andy Harris, the state’s lone GOP congressman from the Eastern Shore, call the move a partisan power grab aimed at eliminating his seat.

If adopted, the amendment would limit compactness and natural‑boundary requirements to state legislative districts, allowing congressional maps to ignore those constraints. The effort is part of a broader national trend of states redrawing districts to favor the party in power.