Maryland Holds Special Session on Redistricting Amendment

Maryland lawmakers will convene in a special session from August 3 to 5 to consider a constitutional amendment that would establish a new legal framework for drawing congressional districts, legislative leaders announced on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The proposal, which would not affect the 2026 elections, is a direct response to recent court rulings that have altered the national redistricting landscape.

The session, called by Democratic Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, aims to place an amendment on the November 2026 ballot for voter approval. If passed by voters, the new rules would take effect for the 2028 redistricting cycle. The amendment would require a three-fifths majority vote in both chambers of the General Assembly, where Democrats hold a decisive majority, before going to the electorate.

Democratic leaders framed the move as a necessary defensive measure. They cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened the federal Voting Rights Act and subsequent redistricting actions in several Republican-controlled states, which they argue have diluted minority voting power and Democratic representation. "After recent court decisions...