ANNAPOLIS — Governor Wes Moore announced Monday the creation of the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission, a bipartisan panel that will hold public hearings and make recommendations to improve Maryland’s congressional maps. The move marks the state’s most significant redistricting initiative since 2011 — and places Maryland squarely in the middle of a growing national fight over how and when political boundaries are drawn.
“My commitment has been clear from day one — we will explore every avenue possible to make sure Maryland has fair and representative maps,” Moore said in a statement. “This commission will ensure the people are heard.”
The five-member body, modeled after a commission last convened by former governor Martin O’Malley, includes Senator Angela Alsobrooks as chair, former attorney general Brian Frosh, and Cumberland mayor Ray Morriss. Two additional members will represent the presiding officers of the Maryland General Assembly. The group will begin its work this month, gathering public input on whether the current congressional lines accurately reflect the state’s population and political balance.
“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,” Alsobrooks 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.”
The governor’s announcement comes as redistricting wars escalate nationwide. Republican lawmakers in Texas and North Carolina have moved to redraw congressional maps mid-cycle, a push that analysts say could expand GOP control of the House before the 2026 midterms. Democrats in states such as California and New York are responding with their own map revisions — a tit-for-tat cycle some election experts warn could erode long-standing norms around decennial redistricting.
Maryland’s process, by contrast, will unfold through public hearings and open comment sessions rather than immediate legislative action. State officials say that approach is meant to emphasize transparency and avoid the perception of partisan maneuvering.
Moore has framed the commission as part of a broader promise to strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions. “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.”
The panel’s recommendations are expected to reach the governor and the General Assembly later this year.
