A coalition of Maryland Republicans and conservative advocacy groups filed a lawsuit late Thursday challenging a Democratic-backed ballot question on congressional redistricting that could eliminate the state’s last Republican congressional seat.
The lawsuit, filed in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, argues that state officials violated legal deadlines and procedural requirements when advancing the measure, known as HB 2100, for the November ballot. Plaintiffs include the Oversight Project, all seven members of the Maryland Freedom Caucus, the Senate minority leader, the Senate minority whip, and the House minority leader.
Key Legal Arguments
The complaint contends that Maryland’s July 1 statutory deadline for certifying statewide ballot questions had already passed when lawmakers convened a special legislative session to approve the amendment. It also asserts that the ballot question does not meet state requirements for plain language disclosure and that election officials failed to post the full text of the proposed constitutional amendment 90 days before Election Day, as required by law.
Background on the Ballot Measure
HB 2100, passed during a special session in late August, proposes a constitutional amendment that would remove existing standards for compactness and boundaries in congressional redistricting. If approved by voters, the change could allow Democrats to draw a map eliminating Maryland’s sole Republican-held congressional seat, currently represented by Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st), a prominent figure in the U.S. House Freedom Caucus.
Political Responses
Supporters of the ballot measure, including Gov. Wes Moore (D), have framed it as a necessary step to modernize redistricting processes and reduce gerrymandering. Opponents, however, argue that the special session was convened to bypass legal deadlines and advance a partisan agenda.
Del. Matt Morgan (R-St. Mary’s), chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus, stated in a news release that the lawsuit seeks to uphold due process and prevent what he described as an attempt to rewrite the state constitution to eliminate Republican representation. The Oversight Project, a conservative watchdog group, echoed these concerns, alleging that lawmakers added language to HB 2100—including the phrase “notwithstanding any other provision of law”—less than an hour before a joint committee hearing, a move plaintiffs argue was procedurally improper.
Next Steps
The lawsuit will proceed in state court, where a judge will determine whether the ballot question meets legal requirements. If the measure is blocked, the current congressional map would remain in place, preserving Harris’s seat. If allowed to proceed, voters will decide the amendment’s fate in November.
The case raises broader questions about ballot initiative procedures, legislative deadlines, and the balance of power in Maryland’s congressional delegation, where Democrats currently hold a 7-1 advantage in the state’s eight seats.