Maryland Governor Wes Moore Threatens Redistricting to Eliminate State’s Only GOP Seat
Maryland Governor Wes Moore is making waves after suggesting that Democrats could redraw the state’s congressional map in a way that would completely eliminate the only Republican seat in the state.
The comments came during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on Sunday.
Currently, Maryland’s congressional delegation includes seven Democrats and one Republican—Rep. Andy Harris, who represents the state’s 1st District on the Eastern Shore. But that could change dramatically if Moore follows through on his warning.
Moore: ‘All Options Are on the Table’
When Brennan asked whether Moore was considering a redistricting plan that would target Harris’s seat, the governor didn’t hold back:
“When I say all options are on the table, all options are on the table,” Moore said.
Pressed on whether the state is “actively looking at it now,” Moore doubled down:
“Yeah, and I think we have to.”
The comments come as Democrats across the country threaten retaliation against Texas, where the state Senate approved new congressional maps that could give Republicans five additional House seats.
Democrats Respond to Texas Map
Moore’s remarks mirror comments from other Democratic leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who recently introduced a proposal called the “Election Rigging Response Act,” which would redraw congressional maps in his state to eliminate up to five Republican-held districts.
The Texas plan, combined with similar moves in GOP-controlled states, has intensified the national redistricting battle, with both parties seeking to gain an edge before the 2026 midterm elections.
What’s at Stake in Maryland?
Maryland is one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, but the GOP has managed to hold onto Harris’s Eastern Shore seat for years. That could soon change.
If Moore proceeds with a new map, Maryland could join Massachusetts as the second state with zero Republican representation in the U.S. House. Massachusetts has not sent a Republican to Congress since 1996, despite electing Republican governors like Mitt Romney and Charlie Baker.
Moore Blames Trump, Says Fairness at Stake
Moore argued that redistricting changes are necessary to restore “fairness” and accused former President Trump of pushing aggressive gerrymandering tactics:
“We’re watching the same thing now, where he’s calling up legislatures around the country and saying I need you to find me more congressional districts.”
Republicans call this an open admission of partisan map-rigging, while Democrats insist they are simply countering GOP efforts to “lock in power” through redistricting.
History of Partisan Redistricting
Democrats have used similar tactics before. In Illinois, for example, the Democrat-controlled legislature passed a new congressional map in 2021 that eliminated two Republican seats—one of which belonged to Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic.
After the map took effect, Illinois went from 11 Democrats and 7 Republicans to 14 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
Moore’s comments suggest Maryland Democrats may follow suit, erasing the last GOP stronghold in the state as both parties escalate the redistricting arms race.
Wes Moore, Maryland Redistricting, Andy Harris, Gerrymandering, 2026 Midterms, Democrats vs Republicans
