The above map was recommended by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission earlier this year, showing one version of a map Democrats had considered in editing the 1st District, shown in red. This map was not approved.
Del. Tom Hutchinson, shown above in a file photo, said he agrees with a judge’s ruling to block Maryland’s redistricting ballot question. Democrats “rushed this through too quickly (and) didn’t follow their own rules,” he said.
The proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting as it was written to appear on the ballot this November, according to the State Board of Elections website.
The above map was recommended by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission earlier this year, showing one version of a map Democrats had considered in editing the 1st District, shown in red. This map was not approved.
Del. Tom Hutchinson, shown above in a file photo, said he agrees with a judge’s ruling to block Maryland’s redistricting ballot question. Democrats “rushed this through too quickly (and) didn’t follow their own rules,” he said.
The proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting as it was written to appear on the ballot this November, according to the State Board of Elections website.
A judge on Wednesday struck down Maryland’s redistricting ballot question, a decision local Republicans are declaring a victory for residents on the Eastern Shore.
Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Thompson issued an injunction against Question 3, the redistricting ballot measure Democrats approved during a two-day special session this month. Democrats hoped it would pave a clearer path to redrawing the 1st Congressional District, which includes the entire Eastern Shore.
Thompson’s injunction is on hold pending an appeal by Democrats to the Maryland Supreme Court. The deadline for the ballots to be finalized is Monday, Aug. 31.
In a statement, Del. Matt Morgan (R-St. Mary’s) said the decision shows the Democratic-supermajority chamber “is still a chamber bound by the law.”
“Today the court made clear that three-fifths of the vote doesn’t buy you an exemption from the rules you wrote yourself,” Morgan wrote. “Maryland doesn’t answer to kings, and it doesn’t answer to a legislature that thinks it’s one.”
Del. Tom Hutchinson (R-Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico) said the judge made the right decision.
“Sadly, I just texted my Republican colleagues and said, ‘Looks like we wasted two days in Annapolis in early August,’” Hutchinson said, referring to the Aug. 3-4 special session. “I think the ruling is the right ruling because they rushed this through too quickly, didn’t follow their own rules, their own deadlines.”
Wednesday’s decision concerns a lawsuit filed by nine GOP lawmakers — seven members of the far-right Maryland Freedom Caucus and Republican Sens. Steve Hershey and Justin Ready. They alleged that Democratic plaintiffs, including Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis, didn’t follow the Maryland Constitution during the special session process and when placing Question 3 on the ballot.
Thompson heard arguments Tuesday in Annapolis from the dueling parties and released his injunction Wednesday.
The judge contends the state legislature rushed to pass the measure in a “hastily called special session,” leading to a poorly-worded question that ignores previously established legal procedure.
“Because the legislature did not follow the very laws it enacted, the court finds the enactment of (House Bill 2100) to be legally deficient,” Thompson wrote. The judge added that “even if the legislature’s reading of the constitution is correct,” the ballot question itself is “deficient.”
Hershey (R-Kent, Queen Anne’s, Cecil, Caroline), the Senate minority leader, called the court’s decision “an important victory for the rule of law and for every Maryland voter who expects government to follow the Constitution and the election law it enacts.”
Moore spokesman Ammar Moussa said the governor’s office “respectfully disagrees” with the court’s ruling.
“At a moment when states across the country are manipulating congressional maps to silence voters and undermine fair representation, Maryland cannot afford to sit on our hands,” Moussa wrote.
In light of the judge’s ruling, Eastern Shore Republicans are emphasizing their stance that the redistricting measure is wrong. If approved by voters, the measure would clear a legal path for Maryland Democrats to gerrymander congressional districts in their favor.
Any redrawn map is likely to alter the 1st District, a seat held by eight-term incumbent Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s lone Republican in Congress. The 1st District includes all Eastern Shore counties, Harford County and part of Baltimore County.
Del. Chris Adams said in an interview Wednesday the decision proves what Republicans already knew.
“We’ve said all along that the majority party was seeking to gerrymander out the only Republican voice in Congress, and that there was every reason for us to be concerned about that process,” Adams said.
Hutchinson believes the injunction will make the Eastern Shore’s voice heard.
“It guarantees that we will continue to be able to provide the representation that my constituents want, the people of the Eastern Shore want, and to make sure their conservative values are upheld,” Hutchinson said.
Maryland Democrats moved to clear a path for redistricting after an effort to redraw the state’s congressional map failed earlier this year. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) and his allies in that chamber opposed redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms, stalling any chance for it to pass before the legislative session ended in April.
But Ferguson later came around to the idea of the special session and placing a question on the ballot for voters this November.
The push to redistrict and apply pressure on Harris’ seat came after Republican-led states, such as Texas, went through with gerrymandering efforts at the request of President Donald Trump.
While approval of Question 3 wouldn’t change the maps, it would give the Democratic-majority legislature more legal leeway to do so. Democrats are holding their stance despite the injunction. Moore’s office confirmed Wednesday afternoon it has already appealed to the Supreme Court.
“We believe Maryland voters deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard, and we will continue fighting to ensure they can,” wrote Moussa, Moore’s spokesman.
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D), who’s supported redistricting since the General Assembly kicked off in January, stood firm on her position.
“The General Assembly acted because we believe Maryland voters should have the opportunity to decide whether these standards belong in our Constitution,” she said in a statement. “Today’s ruling has been stayed pending appeal, and we will allow that legal process to proceed. We remain confident in the authority of the General Assembly and believe Maryland voters should have the final say.”
Ahmad Garnett, Macayla Cook, Lily Tierney, Andrea Grabenstein, Hannah Combs and Konner Metz contributed to this story.
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