MARYLAND (WBFF) — As the Maryland General Assembly overwhelmingly advanced a constitutional amendment that, if approved by Marylanders in November, could reshape how the state handles future congressional redistricting, public testimony revealed opposition that crossed party strongholds.
Ahead of Monday’s joint hearing before the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee and the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, lawmakers received 132 testimonies opposing the proposal, compared with 23 in support, including 11 that requested changes to the referendum.
A Baltimore Sun analysis found the opposition wasn’t confined to Maryland’s Republican strongholds. Of the witnesses whose county of residence could be identified, or roughly 65%, nearly six in 10 came from counties where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, including Montgomery, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Frederick counties. The remaining witnesses largely came from Republican-leaning jurisdictions such as Harford, Carroll, Cecil and several Eastern Shore counties.
The testimonies offer an early glimpse at the coalition mobilizing against the referendum, which Democratic leaders say is needed to counter national Republican-led efforts to redraw congressional districts in states like Texas, Alabama and Ohio. It’s this thinking, however, that Benjamin H. Grimaldi, of Baltimore, challenged in his testimony. “This just isn’t right – for the same exact reason that gerrymandering in Texas and Florida is wrong.”
Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.
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