BALTIMORE — With the balance of power at stake in Congress, some Maryland Democrats are eager to jump into a growing national fight that could lead to an unusual and heavily partisan redrawing of congressional districts across the country.

Joining the fray could mean fast-tracking the creation of a new map of Maryland’s eight U.S. House districts — potentially in a way that would erode Republicans’ chances of winning any seats in an already Democrat-dominant state.

Democrats currently represent all but one of those eight districts, and their attempts to make the lone Republican seat more competitive in 2022 were shot down by a judge as “extreme partisan gerrymandering.”

Republicans told The Baltimore Sun that any attempt to further gain control of that last district would be illegal and a “transparent grab for partisan advantage.” Democrats said their hand is being forced by President Donald Trump, who started the latest stress test of political norms by trying to gerrymander Texas in order to win more Republican seats next year.

“If we can pick up one seat in Maryland, then so be it,” said Del. Adrian Boafo, a Prince George’s County Democrat. “We have to put up some type of fight in this moment.”

‘All options must be on the table’

The drama ratcheted up across the country on Monday as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to expel Democratic lawmakers who were trying to avoid redistricting there. Some have said that could lead to Republicans gaining as many as five congressional seats in the 2026 midterms, which is more than the slim majority they hold now.

National Democrats said Monday they would respond in full force, with one key campaign organization calling on Democrats to do everything in their power to also pursue redistricting outside of the normal, once-in-a-decade process.

“All options must be on the table — including Democratic state legislatures using their power to fight back and pursue redistricting mid-cycle in order to protect our democracy,” said Heather Williams, president of the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

‘It’s the only way to make this fair’

In Maryland, state House Majority Leader David Moon is leading the charge. Legislation he’s drafting would automatically begin the congressional redistricting process if Texas or any other state approves new districts. He said he’s concerned about a potential “new normal” in which districts are repeatedly redrawn so that elected officials don’t have to be held accountable by voters in their next election.

“It’s the only way to make this fair,” said the Montgomery County Democrat, who believes Republicans’ efforts are displaying “a very cold-hearted analysis of the situation” and “telling us that the rules are what we can get away with.”

Moon told The Baltimore Sun he’s “not thinking about the partisan outcome here whatsoever” — including whether Democrats in control of the redistricting process in Maryland would pursue a map that would give them an easier path to win all the districts.

‘Dangerously polarizing’

But Boafo, who has said he will co-sponsor Moon’s plan, said it should be clear that Maryland Democrats would be in a position to try to get the final Republican seat. The district, held by U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, covers Harford County, the Eastern Shore and part of Baltimore County.

“It would be tough because of the legal challenges that we faced,” Boafo said, referring to successful GOP complaints that led to the judge’s ruling in 2022. “I do think it’s possible.”

Del. Joe Vogel, another Democrat sponsoring the effort, did not directly say if the effort would target Harris’ seat but said, “I don’t think anyone’s ignorant to what a gerrymandering battle means.”

“It’s very clear to people that this is the beginning of something considered to be dangerously polarizing,” said Vogel, of Montgomery County. “I wish we were not in this position.”

‘Simply absurd’

House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, an Allegany County Republican, said his party will be prepared to push back against Democrats’ efforts to “squeeze” GOP voters into districts where he believes their voices are already diluted. If the last Republican-held district is eliminated, he said, the quarter of state voters who are registered Republican will have no like-minded representation in Washington.

“That’s simply absurd to think that that’s possible and that’s legal,” Buckel said, adding that he doesn’t support the current mid-decade redistricting efforts in any state.

Buckel’s counterpart in the state Senate, Minority Leader Steve Hershey, said in a statement that “the integrity of our elections isn’t a game, and it shouldn’t be treated like one.”

“Only Maryland Democrats would see election mischief elsewhere and think, ‘Let’s out-cheat the cheaters,’” Hershey said. “Delegate Moon’s proposal to redraw Maryland’s congressional maps mid-decade if another state does the same isn’t bold — it’s reckless, shameless and a transparent grab for partisan advantage.”

‘Uncharted waters’

Whether Maryland Democrats would go ahead with the plan — and when they would do it — remains unclear. The next annual 90-day session isn’t set to begin until January, and candidates in next year’s congressional elections will need to officially file soon afterward.

Gov. Wes Moore’s office did not respond to questions Monday about whether he supports Moon’s effort and if he would call for a special session to pass it. Harris, whose seat could be newly in play, also did not return a request for comment.

Successfully targeting Harris’ district would be difficult, and it would come with risks of making other surrounding districts — like the ones represented by U.S. Reps. Johnny Olszewski, Jr. and Sarah Elfreth — more competitive for Republicans, said Roger Hartley, dean of the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs.

It would also risk losing the “moral high ground” by engaging in partisan maneuvers, though that also might not be an option at this point, Hartley said.

“Democrats see it as a declared war. And in any war, if you’re attacked, you attack back or you get beat,” Hartley said. “That’s where Democrats are right now.”

Moon said he’s “hoping that cooler heads prevail.”

“We’re in a bit of uncharted waters here,” he said.

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