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<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWHAT THEY MAY MEAN FOR THE REDISTRICTING RIFT RIGHT HERE IN MARYLAND. HOW ARE YOU DOING, MARSHALL? TODAY\u2019S DECISION COULD HAVE FAR REACHING IMPACTS. THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE STATE\u2019S REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL MAPS. THOSE WERE RECENTLY APPROVED BY A STATEWIDE VOTE. IT\u2019S A WIN FOR REPUBLICANS WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING FOUR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS IF THOSE MAPS WERE USED IN THE UPCOMING MIDTERM ELECTIONS. BUT THE QUESTION NOW IS, DOES THIS CHANGE THE MATH FOR DEMOCRATS IN MARYLAND? THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT DECISION STRIKING DOWN A VOTER APPROVED CHANGE TO THE STATE\u2019S CONGRESSIONAL MAP IS THE SECOND SETBACK FOR DEMOCRATS IN AS MANY DAYS. LAWMAKERS IN TENNESSEE APPROVED A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP THURSDAY THAT DIVIDES THE STATE\u2019S LONE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT, GIVING REPUBLICANS THE CHANCE TO GAIN ANOTHER SEAT MID-DECADE. MAPS STILL STAND IN EIGHT STATES AND COULD NET REPUBLICANS EIGHT SEATS IN CONGRESS, AND THEY WANT US TO SIT DOWN AND BE QUIET ABOUT IT. ABSOLUTELY NOT. MARYLAND GOVERNOR WES MOORE HAS BEEN A PROPONENT OF REDISTRICTING THIS YEAR, PUSHING TO JOIN DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED STATES IN RESPONDING TO THE NEW MAPS BENEFITING REPUBLICANS. I\u2019M NEVER GOING TO STOP FIGHTING FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, AND ANYONE WHO IS WAITING FOR ME TO STOP FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY, THEY ARE GOING TO BE WAITING A HELL OF A LONG TIME, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THIS MOMENT, WE\u2019VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE ARE WATCHING A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT IS TRYING TO RIG AND STEAL ELECTIONS. SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON HAS PUBLICLY DISAGREED WITH MOORE\u2019S STANCE ON REDISTRICTING, CHOOSING NOT TO TAKE IT UP BEFORE THE END OF MARYLAND\u2019S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, FERGUSON WAS NOTICEABLY ABSENT FROM THE GOVERNOR\u2019S LIST OF ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS THIS WEEK. SO I WILL WORK WITH THE PRESIDING OFFICERS AND A CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDING OFFICERS. BUT THE PRESIDING OFFICERS KNOW MY POSITION IS VERY CLEAR AND MY POSITION IS NOT OVER. THE DISAGREEMENT HAS SEEN INPUT FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE PARTY. HOUSE MINORITY LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES VISITED THE STATE TO PUSH FOR REDISTRICTING IN FEBRUARY. HE SPOKE AT AN EVENT IN BALTIMORE TODAY, AS PRESSURE MOUNTS ON MARYLAND DEMOCRATS. AND I THINK IF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL MASS, WHICH IS NOW HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEN I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MARYLAND SHOULD BE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES. ARE YOU? NOW? THE GOVERNOR DID NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY HE WOULD CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION. WHEN WE SPOKE TO HIM THIS WEEK, WE ASKED HIS OFFICE ABOUT THAT TODAY. WE DID NOT HEAR BACK. SENATOR FERGUSON\u2019S OFFICE HAS NOT RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS ABOUT\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Virginia Supreme Court ruling on redistricting raises stakes for Maryland<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tUpdated: 6:15 PM EDT May 8, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Virginia Supreme Court struck down the commonwealth’s voter-approved congressional maps on Friday, a decision that could have significant implications for Maryland’s ongoing redistricting debate.The ruling is seen as a victory for Republicans, who faced the potential loss of four congressional seats under the rejected maps. The decision follows Tennessee lawmakers’ approval of a new congressional map on Thursday that divides the state’s lone Democratic district, giving Republicans the chance to gain another seat. Mid-decade maps remain in place in eight states, which could net Republicans eight additional congressional seats. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has been a strong advocate for redistricting this year, pushing for the state to join other Democratic-controlled states in responding to new maps that favor Republicans.”They want us to sit down and be quiet about it. Absolutely not,” Moore said. “I’m never going to stop fighting for our democracy and anyone who’s waiting for me to stop fighting for democracy, they are going to be waiting a hell of a long time. I believe in this moment. We’ve got to understand what is happening. We are watching a federal administration that is trying to rig and steal elections.”In August 2025, Moore ordered Maryland’s map to be redrawn after Republican-led states ordered maps redrawn in a partisan manner. A new map drawn by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission reshaped the 1st and 3rd congressional districts in a way that could put Maryland’s sole Republican member of Congress at a disadvantage.The House of Delegates has since passed the redistricting bill (House Bill 488), but it is currently languishing in the Senate Rules Committee.Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46, has publicly disagreed with the governor’s stance on redistricting, opting not to take up the issue during the legislative session. Ferguson was noticeably absent from Moore’s recent list of election endorsements, underscoring the division within the party.”I will work with the presiding officers and have conversations with the presiding officers, but the presiding officers know my position is very clear and my position is not moving,” Moore said. The debate has drawn input from national Democratic leaders. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Maryland in February to advocate for redistricting and spoke at an event in Baltimore on Friday as pressure mounts on Maryland Democrats. Video below: Hakeem Jeffries calls on Maryland Senate to vote on redistricting (February)”I think if the rest of the country is going to have this conversation about their own individual maps, which is now happening all across the country, then I do not understand why Maryland should be sitting on the sidelines on this one,” Moore said.The governor did not specifically say whether he would call for a special legislative session to address redistricting when speaking to WBAL-TV 11 News this week. His office did not respond to questions about the matter on Friday.Similarly, Ferguson’s office did not provide comment on his absence from Moore’s recent election endorsements.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tBALTIMORE \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the commonwealth’s voter-approved congressional maps<\/a> on Friday, a decision that could have significant implications for Maryland’s ongoing redistricting debate.<\/p>\n The ruling is seen as a victory for Republicans, who faced the potential loss of four congressional seats under the rejected maps. The decision follows Tennessee lawmakers’ approval of a new congressional map<\/a> on Thursday that divides the state’s lone Democratic district, giving Republicans the chance to gain another seat. <\/p>\n Mid-decade maps remain in place in eight states, which could net Republicans eight additional congressional seats. <\/p>\n Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has been a strong advocate for redistricting this year, pushing for the state to join other Democratic-controlled states in responding to new maps that favor Republicans.<\/p>\n “They want us to sit down and be quiet about it. Absolutely not,” Moore said. “I’m never going to stop fighting for our democracy and anyone who’s waiting for me to stop fighting for democracy, they are going to be waiting a hell of a long time. I believe in this moment. We’ve got to understand what is happening. We are watching a federal administration that is trying to rig and steal elections.”<\/p>\n In August 2025, Moore ordered Maryland’s map to be redrawn<\/a> after Republican-led states ordered maps redrawn<\/a> in a partisan manner. A new map<\/a> drawn by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission<\/a> reshaped the 1st and 3rd congressional districts in a way that could put Maryland’s sole Republican member of Congress at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n The House of Delegates has since passed the redistricting bill<\/a> (House Bill 488<\/a>), but it is currently languishing in the Senate Rules Committee.<\/p>\n