Maryland Senate president softens stance on redistricting: ‘The rules have changed’

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) signaled a shift this week on mid-decade redistricting, softening his earlier skepticism as battles over congressional maps intensify nationwide ahead of November’s midterms.

Ferguson had previously raised concerns about drawing a new map, warning it could trigger legal challenges and public backlash in a state where Democrats already hold an advantage.

That position helped stall efforts backed by Gov. Wes Moore and other Democratic leaders who have pushed to revisit the state’s district lines before the next election cycle. Earlier this week, the state Senate leader suggested the debate is no longer settled.

“The rules have changed,” he said, adding that Maryland “must respond as the ground shifts,” a comment that opened the door to a possible special legislative session.

The shift comes as redistricting fights intensify nationwide, fueled in part by a recent Supreme Court decision that clawed back provisions within the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the case, Louisiana v. Callais, the high court allowed changes to a........

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