Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) on Wednesday signed a state legislative bill that redraws the state's congressional districts, while simultaneously calling for nationwide redistricting reform. The new map, which will be put to voters in November, could eliminate the only Republican-held congressional seat in Maryland, currently occupied by Rep. Andy Harris (R).
During an interview with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo, Moore argued that Congress should act on redistricting reform, stating, "I think we need to have national redistricting reform... I think that this is something that Congress needs to move on, should have moved on already." He pointed out that only a small fraction of congressional districts are competitive, which he says pushes candidates to extremes and makes governance difficult.
Moore also criticized former President Donald Trump's call for Republican-led states to redraw their maps mid-decade, calling such moves "very deliberate and intentional." He contrasted that with the Democratic response in Maryland, which he framed as a necessary reaction to GOP tactics.
Cuomo challenged Moore, noting that the governor was doing "exactly what you oppose" by approving a new map. Moore responded, "No, what I think is it's responding to what we're seeing and the conditions on the ground, which I think we have an imperative to do. We would not be having this conversation had it not been for Donald Trump and [Vice President] JD Vance deciding to look to rig the rules so they can make this pain permanent."
The governor emphasized that the final decision rests with Maryland voters. "If the people of Maryland decide in November that they want to have an alteration to our Constitution, then we will go forward and do that," he said, adding that the state would not act solely on a presidential edict.
The state House approved the bill 96-38, and the Senate passed it 32-13. Republicans in the state legislature opposed the plan, with Harris labeling it "hyperpartisan gerrymandering" on social media.
This move is part of a broader national fight over redistricting, following Republican-led efforts in Texas and Democratic responses in California. For more on similar battles, see Missouri's recent redistricting referendum block and Maryland's House approval of the amendment.
Moore's stance highlights the growing partisan divide over how district lines are drawn, with both parties accusing the other of manipulating the process for political gain. The November ballot measure will be a key test of voter sentiment on this issue.
