Maryland lawmakers meet Aug. 3 to consider a constitutional amendment on future congressional redistricting.
Why it matters: The proposal would not alter Maryland's 2026 congressional map, but it could set the legal rules for any later redraw. Maryland's 8 seats are closely watched because the state is already 7-1 Democratic, so any change could affect the balance in a tightly contested House.
- Maryland lawmakers are scheduled to convene in special session Aug. 3, 2026, to consider a constitutional amendment on congressional redistricting.
- The amendment would need three-fifths approval in both chambers and then voter approval on Nov. 3, 2026.
- If adopted, the change would affect how Maryland could draw its congressional map for the 2028 cycle, not the 2026 election.
- Maryland's congressional delegation is 7-1 Democratic, with Rep. Andy Harris as the lone Republican.
Maryland lawmakers are set to return Aug. 3 for a special session to consider a constitutional amendment that could change how the state handles congressional redistricting, AP reported. The measure would not redraw lines for the 2026 election. Instead, it would create the legal authority for a later redraw that could apply to the 2028 cycle.
Under the proposal, the amendment would need a three-fifths vote in both chambers before going to voters on Nov. 3, 2026. If approved by voters, lawmakers could then use the new framework for a future map change.
Gov. Wes Moore said Maryland should not be "caught flat-footed" in the national redistricting fight and said his administration would work with lawmakers, in a statement posted by the governor's office. Governor Moore statement
Moore's warning points to a concrete risk: if other states move quickly to redraw maps before Maryland changes its own rules, the state could lose leverage in the broader House map fight. Senate President Bill Ferguson had blocked an earlier 2026 push for a more direct redraw over legal-risk concerns, according to The Washington Post.
Legislative leaders say the special session will be limited to congressional redistricting. Maryland has eight House seats. Democrats hold seven, with Rep. Andy Harris as the state's only Republican member of Congress.
By the numbers
- 8 - Maryland's total number of congressional districts.
- 7-1 - Maryland's current partisan House split, with Democrats holding seven seats.
Yes, but: The amendment would still need a supermajority in both chambers and then statewide voter approval, so the special session does not guarantee any future redraw.
What's next: Lawmakers meet Aug. 3, 2026. If the amendment advances, the next key date is the Nov. 3, 2026 statewide vote.