MARYLAND (WBFF) — Senate Democrats are set to meet Thursday to discuss redistricting in Maryland, according to Gov. Wes Moore.
The governor told the media Wednesday that the plan is to come back for a special session, but it’s unclear when that would happen.
Moore said he looks forward “to once and for all make sure that Maryland is going to respond.”
ALSO READ | Maryland lawmakers asked to hold July dates as leaders weigh redistricting special session
The discussion comes after months of debate over whether Maryland should revisit its congressional districts in the middle of the decade.
Earlier this year, the House passed a new congressional map, eyeing giving Democrats an 8-0 advantage, as opposed to the current 7-1 map. That effort failed to move forward during session, meeting the stonewall from the Senate.
For months, Senate President Bill Ferguson resisted calls from Gov. Moore’s administration and other Maryland Democrats to engage in a mid-cycle redistricting effort.
However, Ferguson said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision involving the Voting Rights Act changed the conversation.
“The Supreme Court acted. We in Maryland have to address having a new constitutional standard for voting rights, and so that does require a constitutional amendment to Maryland’s Constitution,” Ferguson previously told FOX45 News. “That’s something that we, I believe, should contemplate having on the November ballot.”
In a statement to FOX45 News, Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey said Marylanders “are tired of Democrat leaders flip-flopping about partisan map-drawing to intentionally eliminate two-party representation.”
Hershey argued that if lawmakers are called back to Annapolis, the focus should instead be on economic concerns facing Maryland families.
“If lawmakers are brought back to Annapolis, it should be to deliver relief for Maryland families,” he said.
In a letter obtained by FOX45 News last week, House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk asked lawmakers to keep portions of their schedules open in July and early August while leadership considers next steps.
Peña-Melnyk said she and Ferguson plan to meet following Tuesday’s primary election “to discuss whether circumstances warrant convening a special session.”
While no decision has been made, lawmakers have been asked to reserve July 16-22 and July 30-Aug. 5 on their calendars, with a preference for the earlier timeframe.
If a special session is called, Peña-Melnyk said she does not expect lawmakers to remain in Annapolis for more than a couple of days.
Local Story
