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Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced the creation of a new redistricting commission amid efforts to push state lawmakers to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, per NBC News.
“My commitment has been clear from day one—we will explore every avenue possible to make sure Maryland has fair and representative maps,” Moore said in a statement on Tuesday (November 4). “This commission will ensure the people are heard.”
According to Moore’s office, the commission will host public hearings to gather voter feedback and make recommendations to “improve” Maryland’s current congressional map. The five-member panel will include three gubernatorial appointees and two legislative representatives or designees. Moore appointed U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks to chair the commission, along with former state Attorney General Brian Frosh and Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss.
Moore's announcement comes after State Senate President Bill Ferguson said last week there was not enough support in his chamber for a mid-decade redistricting effort. Moore, however, alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Md.), continued to push Maryland lawmakers to seek a redraw amid GOP efforts across the country. In recent months, Republicans have enacted new maps in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina.
Following Tuesday's announcement, Ferguson said the Senate would participate in the process, but he cautioned that the hearings could highlight the potential legal risks of redrawing district lines.
“Marylanders’ voices remain central to this process, and these public meetings will provide an opportunity for voters to hear about the unique legal barriers in Maryland—barriers that could unintentionally give Donald Trump another one or two of Maryland’s congressional seats should this effort backfire in our courts,” Ferguson said in a statement.
Last week, Ferguson also expressed concerns over escalating partisan redistricting battles.
“The path that we are on is unsustainable,” he said. “If we want to protect this democracy in the future, we have got to chart a different path.”
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