Raskin urges lawmakers to debate MD redistricting map as Senate remains biggest hurdle

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — Senate Democrats continue to face pressure to bring up redistricting, and now, members of Congress are getting involved.

In a late-night letter to lawmakers, Congressman Jamie Raskin urged a debate and vote on the state’s redistricting proposal, despite Senate President Bill Ferguson’s decision not to bring it to a vote. Raskin sent a six-page letter arguing that fears of the map being struck down are unfounded.

“Nothing is stopping Maryland from doing what California or Texas did,” Raskin wrote in the six-page letter obtained by FOX45 News.

Raskin, a constitutional law professor, said the previous ruling from Judge Lynne Battaglia in 2022 striking down the 2021 map is not precedent and the outcome isn’t a given.

“It seems especially farfetched to hear people ruminating that, if Maryland were to follow California and Texas, it could lead not only to the Maryland Supreme Court striking down the new map but getting mad and wiping out the existing map as well, the one signed into law by Governor Hogan, and then devising a 6-2 or 5-3 map and imposing it on the state,” Raskin wrote.

Sen. Arthur Ellis, D-Charles County, remains the only member of the caucus so far to publicly disagree with Ferguson. Last week, stood on the floor and said he wasn’t coming back for a quorum until Ferguson brings the proposal to the floor for a vote.

“What are you doing today when so many people’s rights are being trampled and we have modern protesters being murdered in the streets of America?” Ellis said on the Senate floor. “I will not come back to this podium and to give quorum to this body, until we bring the mid-cycle districting bill to this floor and we be part of this revolution to send Washington a message that what they are doing to our citizens is unacceptable.”

Tuesday, Ferguson said he “respects every member’s opinion,” noting that not everyone is going to agree on every single thing. Risking “going backwards” and the redistricting push backfiring, Ferguson said, is why he remains opposed to jumping into the fray.

“The number one reason why courts say – or make decisions on behalf of legislatures – is because time has run out. That is exactly where we find ourselves,” Ferguson said, noting the candidate filing deadline is in two weeks for the primary.

While acknowledging respect for Raskin – who once served in the state Senate – Ferguson said Maryland doesn’t have time.

“All of the legal analysis points toward a court getting involved and making a decision on its own as opposed to relying on the legislature,” he added.

Despite Raksin’s argument the Battaglia ruling didn’t set precedent, Ferguson said the same people were arguing in 2021 that the map also wouldn’t get struck down. Once it did, lawmakers were tasked with coming up with another one.

“I respect their opinions, but I also know what happened,” Ferguson said. “The backstop is the state legislature, and we have to be really thoughtful and purposeful” not to risk the current map.

Meanwhile, Gov. Wes Moore continues to put pressure on the Senate to act. He said he won’t specifically call out the Senate President during Wednesday’s State of the State address regarding redistricting. However, Moore noted that the public is aware of his priorities, suggesting that the issue will remain a focal point of his administration.

“I’m not going to move on. I’m not going to stop. I believe deeply that the Maryland Senate should do what the Maryland House has already done,” Moore said.

“I don’t see how we are going to let democracy die in the free state.”

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