Politics

Raskin Urges Maryland Lawmakers to Advance Redistricting Map as Senate President Resists

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin (D) sent a late-night letter Monday urging Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly to move forward with a newly proposed congressional redistricting map.

The map has already passed the state’s House of Delegates, but is now stalled in the Senate, where Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) has refused to bring it to a floor vote.

“I’m writing to explain from my perspective why members of the Maryland Senate should vote for the new congressional district map approved by the House of Delegates,” Raskin wrote in the letter obtained by The Baltimore Banner.

During a press briefing Friday, Ferguson addressed the growing divide among Democrats in the legislature. He warned that mid-cycle redistricting could trigger legal challenges, cause election delays, and potentially cost Democrats legislative seats.

Although he acknowledged widespread frustration with Trump-era policies, Ferguson said his top priority is ensuring Democrats “do not go backwards.”

“The timing and constitutional framework here in Maryland guide this decision,” Ferguson said. “We cannot risk losing representation at this moment, with this federal administration. That risk is simply too great and it would be a travesty for the courts to force Maryland’s map to change.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also stepped in on Tuesday, calling Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) to offer support for passing the new map, according to two sources familiar with the conversation.

Pelosi played a major role in securing passage of Proposition 50 in November — a redistricting measure that favored Democrats and passed with over 64% of the vote.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) praised the victory as a pushback against the Trump administration’s redistricting strategies in Republican-led states such as Texas, calling on Democratic states to follow suit.

In his letter, Raskin echoed that message, warning that the country faces “an existential threat” that requires a unified national response.

“Once we have defeated this autocratic power grab, I will gladly champion nationwide electoral reform to end partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression,” Raskin said. “But those reforms cannot be achieved if we surrender now to forces seeking to turn America into an authoritarian country like Orban’s Hungary or Putin’s Russia.”

“That means we must fight back now.”