Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has abandoned his long‑standing objection to new congressional maps, now backing a plan to eliminate the state’s lone Republican district for the 2028 cycle. He cites the Supreme Court’s recent erosion of the Voting Rights Act, which has spurred Southern legislatures to dismantle minority‑majority seats. Ferguson says Maryland must adapt before the next election.

Ferguson proposes a November ballot measure to amend the state Constitution and shield any new map from court challenge. The amendment would need approval from 29 of the 34 Democratic state senators and passage in the House, where Democrats hold a supermajority. Governor Wes Moore pushes for an earlier special session, aiming to adopt the map and referendum by November.

The showdown mirrors redistricting battles in New York, Colorado and Georgia, where parties race to lock in favorable lines before courts intervene. Democrats fear a repeat of the 2021 map that was struck down for violating constitutional standards and splitting communities. With the amendment’s fate hanging on a narrow Senate vote, the outcome will shape Maryland’s congressional delegation and set a precedent for other states.