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Democrats who control the Maryland Legislature began advancing legislation Monday intended to clear the way for a partisan redistricting process that could help their party pick up an additional U.S. House seat by 2028.
The General Assembly heard hours of debate and testimony on a proposed constitutional amendment intended to give Democrats greater latitude to draw congressional maps favoring their party, which already represents seven of the state's eight House districts. The legislation was expected to reach a vote on final passage Tuesday, and the proposed changes to the state constitution would have to be approved by voters before lawmakers could begin considering new district lines.
Deep blue Maryland's move is the latest turn in the national battle over redistricting, which kicked off a year ago and has reshaped the U.S. House map ahead of this year's midterms.
Leaders of the General Assembly -- who have been vague about their future plans for redrawing districts but in recent years have attempted to craft 8-0 maps -- have characterized their proposal as an attempt to make sure Maryland is well-positioned to respond to redistricting by red states and contribute to efforts to elect Democrats who could serve as a check on the Trump administration.
The state's Republicans called the proposed amendment a blatant power grab aimed at ousting Maryland's lone GOP representative in Congress, Rep. Andy Harris.
Harris, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, represents Maryland's 1st District, which is centered on the mostly rural Eastern Shore, part of a scenic peninsula separated from the rest of the state by the Chesapeake Bay.
In 2021, lawmakers tried to remake the maps in a way that made Harris' district more competitive for a Democrat to win, drawing in communities across the bay. But a judge struck down those districts in 2022, calling them a "product of extreme partisan gerrymandering."
In light of that decision and in hopes of avoiding future adverse legal rulings, lawmakers began advancing legislation to amend the state constitution to make clear that the parameters the judge cited -- including that districts be compact in form and have regard given to "natural boundaries" -- apply only to General Assembly districts, not congressional ones.