New Congressional Map Passes in House; Appears Dead in Senate
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A new Congressional map was passed through the House of Delegates, along party lines.
All Republicans voted against this bill. All Democrats voted in favor of the bill, with the exception of Eastern Shore Democratic Delegate Shree Sample-Hughes.
Delegate Matt Morgan said this map is gerrymandered.
“Wes Moore and Annapolis Democrats’ partisan gerrymandering bill passes the House,” Morgan wrote on social media.
“This is an authoritarian one-party system on full display. Hopefully, it dies in the Senate. If not, see you in court.”
The bill heads over to the Maryland Senate and Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey questions the Governor’s transparency on redistricting as he wants the process open to the public.
“If Governor Moore believes his map is lawful, he should defend it openly and on its merits — not pressure the judiciary behind the scenes,” Hershey said.
“This week, legislation advanced in Annapolis that would redraw Maryland’s congressional district lines in the middle of the decade. Decisions like this matter because they directly affect how our communities are represented in Washington and how much confidence people have in the fairness of the process.”
There are reports that Senate President Bill Ferguson will not advance the bill in the Senate.
Sixth District (Baltimore County) Senator Johnny Ray Salling is hopeful the bill will stay in committee.
“From what we’ve been told -more than once- the Senate will not be doing anything with redistricting,” Salling said in a video.
“I appreciate the President of the Senate because it is wrong coming from Governor and his people. It won’t benefit Republicans.”
