Legislative leaders in Maryland announced on Tuesday that lawmakers will return for a special session next month to consider a proposed constitutional amendment on future congressional redistricting, following an unsuccessful attempt earlier this year to redraw the state’s maps in favour of Democrats.
The development marks the latest chapter in the nationwide dispute over partisan redistricting, a process that has already reshaped the composition of the U.S. House ahead of this year’s midterm elections and could continue to influence elections in states such as Maryland through the 2028 electoral cycle.
The Democrat-controlled Maryland General Assembly is scheduled to convene from August 3 to consider a proposed constitutional amendment that could be placed before voters in November. If approved, the measure would pave the way for a possible 8-0 Congressional map in the future. Democrats currently control seven of Maryland’s eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Andy Harris remaining the state’s only Republican member of Congress.
While the proposed amendment has yet to be made public, legislative leaders said it is designed to “clarify” the state constitution following a 2022 court decision that overturned a previous congressional map, which would have made Andy Harris’s district more competitive for Democrats.
The proposed amendment will be submitted to voters in the November 3 general election if it is endorsed by a three-fifths majority in both chambers of the legislature. If ratified, it would allow lawmakers to revisit Maryland’s congressional boundaries in a future election cycle under the amended constitutional provisions.
“Maryland needs a durable, transparent constitutional framework for congressional redistricting that reflects the evolving legal landscape,” said House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said in a statement. “This special session gives the General Assembly the opportunity to respond thoughtfully to recent court decisions while ensuring that Maryland voters have the final say on any proposed constitutional changes.”
