Top House Democrats pressured Maryland’s state government on Monday to redistrict the state’s congressional map to ensure a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.
“We can redistrict to make Maryland House seats more competitive in a way that counters the Trump national steamroller,” the letter written by Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), reported by the Baltimore Sun, reads. “We believe such an effort can survive any legal attack.”
“We don’t need to remind you that Marylanders have paid a heavy price during the first year of the second Trump Administration: more than 15,000 federal employees have been fired with thousands more now furloughed and thousands of federal contractors thrown out of work; tariffs have driven up the cost of living while millions struggle to make ends meet; and over 250,000 Marylanders face devastating cuts to their health care,” the letter adds.
The letter, which was sent to Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, comes after the Senate president publicly stated his opposition to congressional redistricting efforts, which could make it harder for Democrats to flip the House majority next year.
“Despite deeply shared frustrations about the state of our country, mid-cycle redistricting for Maryland presents a reality where the legal risks are too high, the timeline for action is dangerous, the downside risk to Democrats is catastrophic, and the certainty of our existing map would be undermined,” Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, wrote.
As it stands, Republicans control the House by six seats. If Maryland fails to redraw its congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections, the five new seats California Democrats look to gain might fall short of altering the balance of the House next year.
This is “an ethical, moral and political imperative to use every lawful means at our disposal to fight back against the aggressive and extreme gerrymander orchestrated by Donald Trump and the GOP,” the letter adds.
“If these things are true, and we believe they indisputably are, then the only remaining question is the practical and tactical one: can we successfully and lawfully redistrict to respond to these GOP assaults?” the letter says. “Here, too, we believe the answer is yes.”
If Ferguson were to take up the measure, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), Maryland’s only congressional Republican, would be forced to run in a district where the state’s Democratic voters would be diluted into the new district.
THE LIKELY HOUSE GOP CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING SURVIVORS
“It disenfranchises huge amounts of the Maryland population,” Harris stated. “It just wouldn’t be fair.”
Harris also vowed to take legal action against the new congressional map if Ferguson were to make the final push for it. “We will take this to court, it will go as high as necessary, and in the end, a judge could draw a map that actually has two or three Republican congressmen,” Harris added. “I’d caution the Democrats, be careful what you wish for.”