ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Maryland Republican Party has launched a statewide campaign aimed at defeating Question 3, a proposed constitutional amendment Republicans say could give Democratic leaders greater power to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
The campaign, called “Save Our Voice,” will focus on canvassing, phone banking, voter registration and turnout efforts ahead of the November election. Republicans are framing the ballot question as a fight over congressional representation across Maryland.
The MDGOP currently holds one of Maryland’s eight U.S. House seats and argues the amendment could threaten that remaining foothold. Party leaders specifically pointed to Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, Cecil County and Harford County as areas they fear could be divided or absorbed into Democratic-leaning congressional districts.
- The Maryland Republican Party has launched its “Save Our Voice” campaign against Question 3.
- Republicans say the amendment could clear the way for another partisan redraw of Maryland’s congressional districts.
- The campaign will organize volunteers for canvassing, phone banking, voter registration and turnout efforts before November.
Republicans Make Congressional Redistricting a November Campaign Issue
The Maryland GOP is portraying Question 3 as an effort by Democratic leaders in Annapolis to strengthen their already dominant position in the state’s congressional delegation.
According to the party’s announcement, Democrats advanced HB2100 during a special legislative session to place the constitutional amendment before voters. Republicans argue the measure could ultimately facilitate an effort to create an 8-0 Democratic congressional map.
“A ‘yes’ vote hands Moore and his allies a green light to carve up Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Cecil and Harford Counties and bury them inside safe Democrat districts,” the Maryland Republican Party said in announcing the campaign.
That claim represents the Republican Party’s political argument against the amendment. The campaign announcement does not establish that passage of Question 3 would automatically result in an 8-0 Democratic map.
The MDGOP plans to take that argument directly to voters across the state, using volunteers to knock on doors, make calls and encourage residents to vote against the amendment.
Party officials said the campaign’s goal is to mobilize voters who believe congressional districts should provide more competitive representation and preserve a Republican voice in Washington.
MDGOP Chair Targets Wes Moore and Democratic Supermajority
Maryland Republican Party Chairwoman Nicole Beus Harris sharply criticized Gov. Wes Moore and the Democratic legislative majority while announcing the campaign.
“Democrats in Annapolis aren’t doing this for Maryland, they’re doing this for Wes Moore,” Harris said.
Harris accused Moore of pursuing a national political profile and argued Democratic lawmakers were willing to diminish Republican representation in Congress to help advance that goal.
“An 8-0 map isn’t representation, it’s erasure, disenfranchisement, and suppression,” Harris said. “Every Marylander who votes Republican for Congress deserves a voice in Washington, and Question 3 is designed to take that away for good.”
The party is therefore framing the campaign as more than a dispute over district boundaries. Republicans say the issue is whether voters in politically conservative portions of Maryland can maintain meaningful representation in Congress.
“We’re going to do everything we can to defeat this ballot question and stop this extreme gerrymandering,” Harris said.
Question 3 Fight Heads Toward November Vote
The campaign places congressional redistricting at the center of Maryland’s November political fight.
Republicans argue Democratic control of seven of the state’s eight congressional seats already reflects previous partisan mapmaking and contend another redraw could threaten Maryland’s final Republican-held seat.
The MDGOP announcement also accused Moore and Democratic lawmakers of focusing on redistricting while affordability, energy costs and state budget problems remain major issues for Maryland residents.
Those claims are part of the Republican Party’s case against Question 3. The material provided for this report did not include a response from Moore, the Maryland Democratic Party or supporters of the constitutional amendment.
Republicans say they will organize beyond traditionally conservative areas, with the “Save Our Voice” campaign seeking voters across Maryland who oppose additional partisan redistricting.
What is Maryland’s Save Our Voice campaign?
It is a Maryland Republican Party campaign organized to defeat Question 3 through canvassing, phone banking, voter registration and turnout efforts.
Why does the Maryland GOP oppose Question 3?
Republicans argue the constitutional amendment would give Democratic leaders greater opportunity to pursue partisan congressional redistricting and could threaten Maryland’s remaining Republican-held U.S. House seat.
What does the Maryland Republican Party want voters to do?
The MDGOP is urging Marylanders to vote “no” on Question 3 in November and is recruiting volunteers for its statewide campaign.
Sources: Maryland Republican Party “Save Our Voice” campaign announcement.
