Maryland

Mid-Decade Redistricting: Where Else Could It Happen?

By EditorAug 11, 2025

Gov. Greg Abbott put mid-decade redistricting on the agenda after Trump suggested a redraw and after a Trump-aligned DOJ letter questioned the legality of four existing districts. Texas’s special session, which convened on July 21 in part to redraw the congressional map, set off a chain reaction among states looking to counter what some say is an "unusual move," although not unprecedented. On July 30, House Republicans released a draft map that could flip the state’s delegation from 25-13 to roughly 30-8 in the GOP’s favor. Texas Democrats have fled the state to deny their Republican counterparts a quorum, and…

RedistrictingCalifornia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Latest, Maryland, mid-decade redistricting, Missouri, New Jersey, new york, policyindepth, Texas, texas redistricting

A Maryland Democrat Proposes Countering Out-of-Cycle Partisan Redistricting

By EditorJul 24, 2025

Maryland House of Delegates Majority Leader, Del. David Moon, a Montgomery County Democrat, is drafting legislation designed to counter partisan congressional redistricting efforts in other states. Moon's proposal would mandate that if any other state deviates from the norm of redrawing congressional districts only once every 10 years, Maryland would be required to do the same. This move comes as President Donald Trump is pushing states like Texas to redraw their maps outside the typical post-Census schedule, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott having called a special 30-day legislative session to consider redistricting, among other issues. Moon's "basic idea" is that…

Maryland, Partisan GerrymanderingMaryland, mid-decade redistricting

Baltimore County’s Proposed Council Map Adds Two Members but There’s No Agreement on Map Yet

By EditorJun 28, 2025

The Baltimore County Redistricting Commission’s final redistricting map proposal reshapes the council into nine districts, up from seven, following voter approval of a charter amendment. The proposed map includes two majority-Black districts, two majority-BIPOC districts, and five majority-White districts. Council member Izzy Patoka emphasized that the expansion offers more opportunities for women and people of color, but acknowledged the map still needs five of the current council’s seven votes to pass, meaning bipartisan support will be essential. The plan faces resistance from Republican council members such as David Marks, who criticized the map for having a “partisan objective” and splitting communities like…

Enacting a Redistricting Map, MarylandBaltimore County, local redistricting, Maryland

Maryland State Court Throws Out 2021 Congressional Map Citing Extreme Gerrymandering

By EditorMar 27, 2022

On Friday, the Senior Judge of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County signed an order prohibiting use of the congressional map that the Maryland legislature approved - over a gubernatorial veto - during a special session in December 2021. State officials were given five days to redraw the map. The legislature is currently in session until April 11. There is no word on whether the state will appeal. Read the order and opinion. The ruling concerned consolidated cases against the map by several plaintiffs and is notable as it makes Maryland among the first few states to fall victim…

Case Updates, Casedocs, LAW, Partisan Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Functions, State LawsIN-DEPTH, lawindepth, Maryland, partisan gerrymandering, STATENEWS

Redistricting Headlines Jan 31 2022: 3 States Finalize Maps and Big Litigation News in 2 States.

By EditorJan 31, 2022

Last week in redistricting three states adopted maps, one state court made a decision about maps, and another court case may be heading to the nation's highest court. Map Enactments Three states enacted maps last week. On Wednesday, Jan. 26, the South Carolina legislature adopted and Gov. Henry McMaster signed a new congressional map into law. The state's legislative district map was enacted in December of last year. Maryland finalized its state legislative map on Thursday Jan. 27. The map was enacted as a joint resolution and does not require the governor's signature. Maryland's new congressional districts were adopted in a…

LATEST, RedistrictingAlabama, hawaii, headlines, idaho, Maryland, South Carolina

Governor Accepts Legislative and Congressional Maps From Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission

By EditorNov 06, 2021

Press Release: November 5, 2021 ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today accepted the final certified legislative and congressional maps submitted by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission and transmitted them to the Maryland General Assembly. The governor also signed a proclamation calling for a special session of the General Assembly beginning Monday, Dec. 6 for the purpose of acting on the commission’s maps. The new maps were formally presented to the governor by the commission’s three co-chairs, Judge Alexander Williams, Jr., Dr. Kathleen Hetherington, and Walter Olson. “This is a great day for the State of Maryland and for democracy,” said Governor Hogan. “On behalf of…

NEWS, Redistricting CommissionsMaryland, policyindepth, STATENEWS

Maryland Map Submission Portal Now Available for Citizens to Create Maps for Redistricting

By EditorSep 07, 2021

Press Release Adjusted Census Data Now Incorporated into Map Submission Portal (September 2, 2021) BALTIMORE, MD - The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) has added a map submission portal, which includes adjusted 2020 Census data, to redistricting.maryland.gov. While the Census data was released to all states on August 12, 2021, Maryland is one of nine states required by state law to reallocate incarcerated residents to their last known address. By incorporating this adjusted Census data into the portal, citizens can now begin creating their own redistricting maps. The map submission portal, loaded with the adjusted data and including detailed instructions…

NEWS, RedistrictingMaryland, STATENEWS

Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission Announces Members

By EditorApr 16, 2021

This Thursday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the selection of six additional members to complete a nine-member citizens redistricting commission created by Hogan in January of this year. The panel will act as an advisory commission to recommend congressional and legislative district maps to the Governor in preparation for redistricting during the 2022 legislative session. The Maryland Constitution requires the governor to submit a state legislative district map to the General Assembly on the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Traditionally, a congressional map is also submitted but it is not constitutionally required. Read the press release regarding the…

NEWS, RedistrictingMaryland, STATENEWS

Maryland Governor Creates Citizens Redistricting Commission

By EditorJan 31, 2021

Gov. Larry Hogan announced that he would establish The Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission to redraw the state's congressional and state legislative boundaries. The application period for members of the public to apply to be on the commission is now open. The commission will consist of 3 members appointed by the governor and 6 members of the public who are selected by the initial three after applying through the application process. The governor's appointees are Judge Alexander Williams (democrat), Walter Olsen (Republican), and Dr. Kathleen Hetherington (Independent). Williams is a retired Judge of the United States District Court for the District…

Enacting a Redistricting Map, NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, POLICY and PRACTICE, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, REFORM, VIDEOIndependent Redistricting Commission, Maryland, policyindepth, redistricting commissions, STATENEWS, States

The Supreme Court’s Less Than Graceful Exit from the Thicket

By Michelle DavisJun 27, 2019

The long-awaited partisan gerrymandering decision has come down from the nation's highest court. A 5-4 majority decided to exit the "political thicket" and leave the policing of political gerrymandered redistricting maps to the States, commissions, congress; anybody, except the nine of them. Below are brief excerpts (with explanation) from the both the majority opinion and a passionate dissent from Justice Kagan in the consolidated cases of Lamone v. Benisek, ET Al. (Maryland) and Rucho v. Common Cause, ET Al. (North Carolina). Read the entire case here. The Court: Partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal…

LAW, NEWS, Partisan Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigationbenesik v Lamone, Benisek, Common Cause, legal, Maryland, North Carolina, northcarolina, partisan gerrymandering, Rucho, scotus, Supreme Court