Amendment would have overridden 2022 ruling that struck down Democratic map
A Maryland court ruled Wednesday that a proposed constitutional amendment that could have paved the way for Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional districts cannot appear on the November ballot, according to the Associated Press. The judge then paused the effect of the ruling to allow an appeal to the state Supreme Court.
State lawmakers referred the amendment to the ballot. It would declare that the state’s constitutional requirement for districts to be compact and take into account “natural boundaries” applies only to state legislative districts, not congressional ones. According to the Associated Press, the amendment seeks to sidestep a 2022 court ruling that struck down a previous Democratic redistricting plan.
Democrats already hold seven of Maryland’s eight congressional seats. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore called lawmakers into a special session in August with a goal of making it easier to claim the final seat.
According to the Associated Press, the ruling marks another setback in Democrats’ national attempts to counter a Republican redistricting movement pushed by President Donald Trump ahead of this year’s elections.