Maryland governor signals plans to redraw congressional map targeting state’s only Republican seat
Annapolis, MD – Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore says he’s prepared to redraw the state’s congressional lines, a move that could eliminate the only Republican-held seat in the state, currently represented by Rep. Andy Harris — joining a growing list of Democrats exploring redistricting as a political strategy ahead of the 2026 elections.
Speaking during an interview earlier this week, Moore confirmed he is “actively looking at” redrawing Maryland’s congressional map, saying “all options are on the table” as Democrats respond to what they describe as aggressive national redistricting efforts backed by President Donald Trump.
“So Governor Moore is happy to disenfranchise the one million Republican and one million Independent voters in the state? Thought he was the Governor for every Marylander, not just Democrats,” Maryland Senate Republicans responded.
Currently, Maryland sends seven Democrats and one Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives. That lone GOP seat — Maryland’s 1st Congressional District — covers much of the Eastern Shore and parts of northern Maryland. It’s been held by Harris since 2011 and has remained a Republican stronghold despite the state’s deep-blue political tilt.
Moore’s comments came amid discussions about political influence over election maps, where he compared President Trump’s attempts to influence congressional boundaries to prior efforts in Georgia to pressure election officials. He accused Trump of calling lawmakers in several states to push for more Republican-leaning districts, suggesting that such moves have made redistricting a necessary countermeasure.
“We need to make sure we have fair maps,” Moore said. “If the president of the United States is putting his finger on the scale… then it behooves each and every one of us to keep all options on the table.”
Moore joins Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), who this week said she would also engage in redistricting to counter GOP-led efforts in other states. Sherrill’s remarks sparked renewed attention to Democratic-led states like Maryland, Illinois, and New Mexico — where redistricting could become a strategic tool heading into 2026.
New Jersey has just two Republican congressmen.
Maryland’s last redistricting cycle in 2022 was struck down by a state judge who ruled the map “an extreme gerrymander” favoring Democrats. Lawmakers later adopted a revised map, but Moore’s latest comments indicate the debate is far from settled.
Redistricting typically occurs once per decade following the U.S. Census, but legal challenges and new political strategies have opened the door for mid-cycle redraws — especially in states with one-party control of the legislature and executive branch.
Moore said the aim is to address what he sees as structural imbalances in congressional representation nationwide. “Less than 10% of congressional seats are actually competitive,” he said. “That’s not how democracy is supposed to work.”
Rep. Harris has not publicly responded to Moore’s comments. Any new map would likely face legal scrutiny and possible court challenges.
