Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Robert Thompson issued a ruling on Wednesday that bars a Democratic‑backed constitutional amendment from reaching Maryland voters in November. The amendment sought to limit the state’s compact‑district requirement to legislative districts only, opening the door for congressional maps that could cross the Chesapeake Bay.
Local impact and procedural background
The judge found that lawmakers missed the July 1 deadline set by a law signed by Governor Wes Moore for the secretary of state to certify ballot summaries. The deadline was intended to ensure timely preparation of statewide questions for the Maryland State Board of Elections. Although the attorney general’s office argued the deadline did not apply because lawmakers drafted their own summary, the court sided with the conservative Oversight Project and Republican legislators who sued.
Maryland’s current congressional delegation is heavily Democratic, holding seven of the eight seats. The amendment would have allowed the party to redraw the lone Republican district held by Rep. Andy Harris, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, potentially reshaping the political balance ahead of the 2028 elections.
Connection to national redistricting battles
The decision comes amid a broader Republican push, led by President Trump, for mid‑decade redistricting in states that control their own election maps. Trump has urged Republican‑led states to redraw districts before the 2026 midterms, hoping to preserve a narrow House majority.
Similar procedural challenges have arisen elsewhere. Earlier this year, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a ballot measure for the same reason—lawmakers failed to meet required timelines. Virginia and Maryland have both looked to California’s 2022 voter‑approved amendment that authorized mid‑decade redistricting, a model Democrats hope to replicate.
What’s next?
Judge Thompson paused the effect of his ruling to allow the state to appeal to the Maryland Supreme Court. If the higher court upholds the decision, the amendment will be removed from the ballot, preserving the status quo for congressional maps until the next redistricting cycle after the 2030 census.
Republican leaders view the ruling as a victory for procedural integrity and for protecting the Constitution’s requirement that districts be drawn fairly. Democratic officials argue the amendment was a necessary correction to a 2022 court decision that invalidated a prior redistricting plan.
Maryland voters will not see the amendment on the November ballot, but the legal battle is likely to continue as both parties prepare for the upcoming elections and the next round of redistricting debates.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
