Maryland Judge Blocks Redistricting Amendment From Ballot

A Maryland judge on Wednesday blocked a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed Democrats to redraw the state's congressional map, ruling that lawmakers violated their own procedures in placing the measure on the November ballot. The decision deals a significant setback to Governor Wes Moore's agenda and the party's national strategy to counter Republican redistricting efforts.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Robert Thompson ruled that the amendment, which aimed to reshape Maryland's congressional districts ahead of the 2028 elections, was legally deficient. In his opinion, Thompson stated that the General Assembly failed to follow the very laws it enacted, specifically missing a July 1 deadline for certifying ballot questions. The legislature had passed the measure, House Bill 2100, during a special session in early August, and Governor Moore signed it on August 5.

The judge also found the ballot language misleading, noting it claimed to merely "clarify" the state constitution's redistricting rules when it would actually change their application. Furthermore, Thompson ruled that the question improperly combined two separate issues: altering the...