Question 3 is headed to MD voters. Ferguson talks about what comes next for redistricting

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Days after Maryland’s highest court ruled the measure could remain on the ballot but ordered its language changed, Senate President Bill Ferguson acknowledged lawmakers did “rush in some ways” to get the redistricting amendment before vetoers this November.

“There is no doubt that we did rush in some ways in order to get it on the ballot for the 2026 election,” Ferguson told FOX45 News Wednesday. “In order to make sure that it was on this ballot, we had to do it in a faster timeline than would be ideal.”

The comments come after weeks of legal challenges over Question 3 and how the General Assembly handled the constitutional amendment during a two-day special session in August.

Last week, the Supreme Court of Maryland ruled Question 3 could remain on the November ballot, but agreed with challengers, at least in part, that the language lawmakers approved was misleading and violated due process requirements. The court ordered the State Board of Elections to replace that language with the purpose paragraph of the legislation.

FOX45 News asked Ferguson whether the language problem identified by the court was an indication lawmakers rushed the process and made mistakes.

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Ferguson pointed to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in May that he said changed the legal landscape surrounding redistricting.

“I think that that’s a very fair assessment,” Ferguson said of the rushed timeline. “I appreciate the Maryland Supreme Court affirming the ultimate outcome and giving this choice to the voters.”

Question 3 would not itself redraw Maryland’s congressional districts. Instead, it would amend the state Constitution regarding the standards governing congressional redistricting.

The revised ballot language says, in part, that “nothing in the Maryland Constitution provides applicable criteria for the boundaries of a congressional districting plan.”

Ferguson repeatedly stressed the distinction between changing those rules and actually drawing a new congressional map.

“This is not a map,” Ferguson said. “This is about the standard and it is a debate about the rules of making a map.”

The distinction is significant because the amendment could clear a legal obstacle to lawmakers considering a new congressional map in the future. Maryland’s current congressional delegation is made up of seven Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Andy Harris, who represents the Eastern Shore and portions of northern Maryland.

ALSO READ | Maryland Supreme Court keeps redistricting question on ballot, orders clearer language

FOX45 News pressed the Senate President on whether passage of Question 3 could lay the groundwork for Democrats to pursue an 8-0 congressional map.

Ferguson would not commit to whether lawmakers will pursue a new map.

“We are focused on one step at a time,” Ferguson said. “Right now, the important question is what Marylanders decide on the ballot in November.”

Ferguson said lawmakers would assess the political and legal landscape after the election before deciding what comes next.

“I hope that all of us can get away from this redistricting conversation, but it’s going to take a negotiated settlement,” Ferguson said. “We have to be negotiating from a position of strength in order to stop this national conversation and get back to a place of standards.”

The Senate president had previously been resistant to mid-cycle redistricting. During the 2026 legislative session, Ferguson declined to move forward with a congressional map passed by the House, citing legal and political risks. He later changed course after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling he said altered the redistricting landscape.

Question 3 now heads to Maryland voters in November.

ALSO READ | Maryland redistricting ballot fight heads to Supreme Court

Ferguson said he expects a “spirited debate” over the amendment and again emphasized that voters will not be deciding on the boundaries of a particular congressional map.

“This is not a map,” Ferguson said. “This is about the rules for map making.”

The redistricting fight also strained the relationship between Ferguson and Gov. Wes Moore, who pushed more aggressively for mid-cycle redistricting while Ferguson resisted drawing a new congressional map.

Earlier this year, Gov. Moore publicly acknowledged what he called a “principled disagreement” with Ferguson over redistricting, while saying the two would continue working together on other priorities. Gov. Moore also notably left Ferguson off a lengthy list of incumbent Democrats he endorsed ahead of the June primary.

FOX45 News asked Ferguson about his working relationship with the governor after months of disagreement over redistricting.

“We’ve got a lot of very challenging issues ahead,” Ferguson said, pointing to the work awaiting state leaders when lawmakers return to Annapolis.

“All the political stuff just gets in the way,” Ferguson added. “We’ve got work to do on behalf of Marylanders and that’s where the focus is gonna be in the Senate.”

Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.