Sarah Petrowich

Nationwide efforts to redistrict started last summer when President Trump asked Republican-led states to redraw their congressional boundaries to favor the GOP in the 2026 election.

Maryland is one of a few blue states looking to counter those efforts, and the governor's redistricting commission is recommending a map that could deliver a congressional sweep for Democrats.

Seven of Maryland's eight U.S.

House seats are already held by Democrats.

the new map would loop Democratic-dominated areas into the state's sole Republican district.

It is now up to Maryland lawmakers to approve the map, but Democratic Senate President Bill Ferguson has been unwavering in his objection, calling the recommended map, quote, unconstitutional.

For NPR News, I'm Sarah Petrowich in Baltimore.

I'm concerned.

that maternal and newborn child health is nowhere, and nobody seems to be making any noise about it.

Maryland is one of the few blue states that has been eyeing a new congressional map ahead of the 2026 election.

Seven of its eight U.S.

House seats are held by Democrats, but redistricting advocates believe a new map could be drawn to oust Maryland's sole Republican seat.

Maryland Democratic U.S.

Senator Angela Also-Brooks, who chairs the governor's redistricting commission, released a statement saying residents can submit maps for consideration.

Also, Brooks says the commission has a responsibility to move forward with redistricting, so the next Congress reflects, quote, the will of the people and can serve as a real check on President Trump.

It will ultimately be up to the Maryland state legislature to approve a new map.

For NPR News, I'm Sarah Petrowich in Baltimore.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore called lawmakers to Annapolis to swear in the state's first Afro-Latino and immigrant Speaker of the House, Jocelyn Pena Melnick.

One hot topic not on the agenda, redistricting.

Maryland is one of the few blue states exploring the possibility of drawing new congressional maps, but Democratic Senate President Bill Ferguson has repeatedly expressed reluctance.