Maryland Democrats advance new map that would eliminate sole GOP-held seat
Source: Roll Call
Posted February 2, 2026 at 8:26pm
The Maryland House on Monday approved a new congressional map that would favor Democrats in all eight of the state’s districts. The 99-37 vote sends the measure to the state Senate, where its prospects for passage remain uncertain. Bill Ferguson, the chamber’s top Democrat, has opposed his party’s push to eliminate Maryland’s sole Republican-held seat in Congress, the 1st District represented by Rep. Andy Harris.
Mid-decade redistricting has reshaped this year’s midterm battleground. Several states have reconsidered their congressional maps over the past several months as both parties race to gain an advantage in the fight for the House, where Republicans are defending a narrow majority.
The debate over the new Maryland map harks back to what played out late last year in Indiana, where Republicans in the state House passed a new map that sought to dismantle the state’s two Democratic-held seats only to see the proposal rejected in the state Senate. Indiana Republicans hold super majorities in both legislative chambers, as do their Democratic counterparts in Maryland.
Maryland Democrats have attempted to shut Republicans out of the state’s House delegation before. They sought to target Harris’ Eastern Shore seat following redistricting after the 2020 census, but a state judge blocked the effort, calling it an “extreme partisan gerrymander.” Court challenges are expected this year if the state ends up enacting a new map. Maryland joined the redistricting fight last year when Democratic Gov. Wes Moore tasked an advisory commission with considering whether to redraw the state’s congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Read more: https://rollcall.com/2026/02/02/maryland-house-map-midterm-elections/
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