Democrats Cave After Maryland Rejection: Ballots & Boundaries
Maryland lawmakers hastily redrew congressional district lines after a surprise court ruling killed a map that could have led to an all-Democratic delegation. A more Republican-friendly version is on track for passage later today.
It’s a victory for the GOP because one district could make a big difference; with an overall net of just five seats in this year’s elections, control of the U.S. House of Representatives would flip.
Of the states that haven’t completed redistricting, Missouri‘s likely voting today; we’re on override watch in Louisiana; a veto might be coming from New Hampshire; and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) delivered his promised veto today.
Maryland’s new map proposal would restore a Republican-friendly district for Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican in Maryland’s eight-member House delegation. It would reduce the Democratic leanings of Rep. David Trone‘s 6th District, which runs from Montgomery County near Washington to the western edge of the state.
The other six districts, including the 5th District of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, would remain overwhelmingly Democratic.
Republicans said the new option still isn’t fair enough. “This map, while prettier, is nothing more than lipstick on a pig,” state Sen. Michael Hough said during today’s floor debate. — Greg Giroux
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NEW HAMPSHIRE: STALEMATE
With only two congressional seats, how hard could it be to revise the lines to keep up with population shifts?
Pretty hard, actually.
The legislature targeted 1st District Rep. Chris Pappas (D), who was re-elected by 5 percentage points in 2020, and would make Rep. Ann Kuster (D) more politically secure. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has said he’ll veto it and proposed his own version. Sununu’s map would make Pappas’ district marginally more Republican-leaning and Kuster’s district a little more Democratic-leaning.
It’s not clear yet if the legislature will vote on the governor’s proposal. – Greg Giroux
MISSOURI: END IN SIGHT?
Today’s calendar in the Missouri’s House of Representatives includes a Senate-passed congressional map, so redistricting could be completed before…