Maryland Gov. Moore defends redistricting push despite Democrat opposition
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Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., dismissed concerns Sunday about Democratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson’s new move to redraw the state’s congressional map.
One letter last monthFerguson has urged his party to avoid taking mid-cycle redistricting measures to redraw Maryland’s congressional boundaries out of fear that the process could backfire.
“I believe mid-cycle redistricting in Maryland distorts the rules for potential short-term advantage while weakening trust in institutions and ultimately democracy, but that is not the reason we should not pursue it,” Ferguson wrote. “Simply put, this is too risky and jeopardizes Maryland’s ability to fight back against the radical Trump Administration.”
STATEMENTS SHOW NEWSOM-STYLE RELIMITING EFFORTS CRITICISM BY CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS IN LATE JULY
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson encouraged members of the Democratic Party not to advance legislative efforts on redistricting, despite pressure from Governor Wes Moore. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Moore told CBS “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan that “it’s never risky to fight for democracy” and stood by her order to establish a redistricting commission despite Ferguson’s objections.
“My job is to make sure I protect the democratic process,” Moore said. “The Senate President and I agree on the crisis Donald Trump has put us in. He agrees that we are watching an administration that uses the Constitution as a suggestion box.”
“Where we differ is the urgency that this moment requires and the challenge that this moment requires,” he continued. “And I personally am not one to let Donald Trump decide whether Maryland pursues this idea: We will do everything we can to make sure we protect our democracy.”
FORMER DEMOCRATIC ADVISOR SAYS THE PARTY’S DISCOURSE ON REDISTRIBUTION IS ‘GETTING A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL’
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore defended calls to redistrict his state under pressure from “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Brennan pressed Moore on whether he considered the redistricting effort in Maryland “fair,” noting that Maryland has only one Republican representative. Moore emphasized that he would not draw the maps himself and only wanted a bipartisan commission to balance redistricting efforts in other states.
“I want this bipartisan commission to be able to actually talk to the public and walk them through their process and simply say, if other states are going to go through this process, we’re not just going to sit on our hands because Donald Trump tells us to,” Moore said. he said. “This process is not going to work that way.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Ferguson for comment.
LONE MARYLAND GOP CONGRESSMAN WARNED THAT REDISTRUCTORY COULD CUT THE WHITE HOUSE OFF CONNECTIONS WITH THE ENTIRE STATE
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50, a measure to redraw congressional boundaries, was passed Tuesday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Moore isn’t the only blue state leader trying to redraw congressional districts. Voters on Tuesday passed California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50, which gives the power to redraw congressional boundaries from a nonpartisan redistricting commission to the California legislature.
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Newsom’s ballot measure comes after Texas Republicans successfully passed a new congressional map that added five new Republican-leaning districts to the state.
