Maryland’s top court allows a Democratic-backed congressional districting amendment to appear on the November ballot

Maryland voters will get to decide in November on a congressional redistricting amendment being pushed by Democrats as part of a nationwide battle for control of the U.S. The Maryland Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the proposed constitutional amendment must be placed on the November ballot, reversing two lower court rulings that had blocked it from going to voters. But the court directed the ballot summary to be rewritten.

The decision marks a notable victory for Democrats, who are trying to counter a Republican redistricting movement advanced by President Donald Trump. “Winning in court was only the first step,” said Ned Miller, chief strategist for Fight Back MD, which supports the ballot measure. “We are building the statewide campaign to educate voters, organize supporters and build the coalition necessary to stand up to Donald Trump and pass Question 3 in November.” Democrats already hold seven of Maryland’s eight U.S.

The proposed amendment would not change voting districts for this year’s midterm elections. But if approved by voters, it could free Democratic lawmakers to draw new congressional districts that give the party a shot at a clean sweep in the 2028 elections. Maryland amendment would sidestep a prior court case Democratic Gov.

Wes Moore called lawmakers into a special session in August to refer the amendment to the November ballot. The amendment would undo the foundation of a 2022 court ruling that struck down a previous Democratic redistricting plan as a “product of extreme partisan gerrymandering.” That judge said a constitutional provision requiring compact districts that respect “natural boundaries” applied to congressional districts. But the proposed amendment would apply those parameters only to state legislative districts.

That could allow lawmakers to draw congressional districts that cross the Chesapeake Bay, potentially reshaping a district held by U.S. Andy Harris, the state’s only Republican representative and the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Supreme Court overrules claims on missed deadlines Lower courts ruled that lawmakers didn’t abide by their own requirements when referring the amendment to the ballot.

At the heart of the case was a law passed earlier this year that set a July 1 deadline for the secretary of state to certify information about statewide ballo… (AP) — Maryland’s top court allows a Democratic-backed congressional districting amendment to appear on the November ballot.