Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) has announced the formation of the state’s Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission, a bipartisan body tasked with reviewing and recommending updates to the state’s congressional boundaries.
The move comes as redistricting efforts intensify across the country, with new maps being drawn and contested in several states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Moore said the new commission will hold public hearings, seek community input, and provide recommendations to both his office and the Maryland General Assembly.
“My commitment has been clear from day one — we will explore every avenue possible to make sure Maryland has fair and representative maps,” Moore stated. “This commission will ensure the people are heard.”
The five-member commission will be chaired by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and includes former Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh (D) and Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss, a nonpartisan role, along with appointees from legislative leaders. The last time such a panel was convened in Maryland was in 2011 under then-Gov. Martin O’Malley (D).
Alsobrooks, who will lead the group, said the goal is to restore public confidence in a process that has often been viewed as politically motivated.
“We have a president that treats our democracy with utter contempt. We have a Republican Party that is trying to rig the rules in response to their terrible polling,” she said. “Let me be clear: Maryland deserves a fair map that represents the will of the people. That’s why I’m proud to chair this commission. Our democracy depends on all of us standing up in this moment.”
Maryland Joins Nationwide Redistricting Efforts
Maryland’s announcement arrives at a crucial time for redistricting nationwide.
In North Carolina, courts are reviewing maps approved by the Republican-led legislature after claims that they dilute Black voting power. In Wisconsin, the state Supreme Court recently struck down Republican-drawn maps, ordering new ones to be developed before the next election. In Georgia, new boundaries were approved following a federal judge’s ruling that previous maps violated the Voting Rights Act.
Texas and Florida also face ongoing legal battles over their congressional lines, with courts examining whether political and racial gerrymandering unfairly impacts minority voters.
Experts note that redistricting fights have emerged in nearly every region of the country, often determining which party controls Congress. The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling limiting the role of federal courts in policing partisan gerrymandering has left state courts and commissions like Maryland’s as critical arbiters of fair representation.
Moore said the commission’s work will prioritize transparency and inclusion.
“I thank those who have raised their hands to lead this process,” he said, “and I am confident in their ability to gather the views and perspectives of a broad range of voices throughout the state.”
