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Maryland Authorize Congressional Redistricting and Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction Amendment (2026)

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Maryland Authorize Congressional Redistricting and Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction Amendment

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Election date

November 3, 2026

Topic
Redistricting policy and State judicial authority
Status

Proposed

Type
Legislatively referred constitutional amendment 		Origin

State legislature


The Maryland Authorize Congressional Redistricting and Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction Amendment may appear on the ballot in Maryland as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.[1]

The ama endment would adopt a new congressional map to be used for the 2028 and 2030 congressional elections and authorize original jurisdiction to the Maryland Supreme Court to review congressional redistricting. The amendment would also state that the constitutional requirement that districts be compact and contiguous applies only to state legislative districts, not to congressional districts.[2]

Text of measure

Full text

The full text of the amendment can be read here.

Support

Arguments

  • State Rep. C.T. Wilson (D-28): "We’re, in fact, forcing the issue, and the issue isn’t R and D. The issue is standing up to this current administration. ... We are playing fair. We are doing the right things.”
  • Gov. Wes Moore (D): "So, I know that history is not going to remember the Trump Vance administration kindly. But to all those who kowtow, for all those who are trying to move the goal post, for all those who are looking for all the reasons why we should not respond, instead of using your energy to find ways to respond, history will remember you worse.”


Opposition

Arguments

  • State Rep. Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-31): "You’ve already done what Texas has done. You’re going further by eliminating the one possible district where a Republican can get elected in this state. ... Saying it’s fair is gaslighting. You’re only picking up one seat by doing this, eliminating any Republican voice.”
  • Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-46): "I welcome the governor’s opinion and thoughts at any point. I know what we are doing in the Senate. We are doing what I hear Marylanders asking us to do. They are worried about the cost of living. They’re worried that our economy is not growing fast enough, and they’re scared of a lawless Trump administration. And so, what we’re doing in the Senate every single day is focusing on those priorities that I hear directly from Marylanders on their doorsteps every single weekend."


Path to the ballot

Amending the Maryland Constitution

See also: Amending the Maryland Constitution

A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Maryland State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 85 votes in the Maryland House of Delegates and 29 votes in the Maryland State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

House Bill 488 (2026)

The following is the timeline of the constitutional amendment in the state legislature:[1]

  • January 23, 2026: House Bill 488 was introduced in the state House.
  • February 2, 2026: HB 488 was passed in the state House by a vote of 99-37 with five absent.


Maryland House of Representatives
Voted on February 4, 2026
Votes Required to Pass: 85
YesNoNV
Total99375
Total %70.226.23.6
Democratic (D)9912
Republican (R)3603

See also

2026 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Maryland.

Maryland ballot measures

Explore Maryland's ballot measure history, including constitutional amendments.

Legislative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maryland State Legislature, "House Bill 488," accessed February 3, 2026
  2. ↑ Maryland State Legislature, "House Bill 488," accessed February 4, 2026
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