U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican in Maryland's congressional delegation, has accused Governor Wes Moore of backing a constitutional amendment that could lead to the elimination of his congressional district through redistricting. Harris contends the initiative is driven by Moore's alleged 2028 presidential aspirations rather than Maryland's interests.
The proposed amendment, set to appear on the November ballot if approved by voters, would grant the Democratic-controlled General Assembly significantly more power to redraw the state's congressional districts. Harris stated in an interview with Fox News Digital that the governor is prioritizing the "national political scene" over Maryland issues.
"The governor certainly led the charge in trying to eliminate the only Republican in the Maryland delegation in furtherance of his presidential aspirations," Harris said. "It's obvious that this is not being done for Maryland, it is being done for a national agenda."
While Moore has publicly stated he is not running for president in 2028, speculation about a potential White House bid persists.
Harris criticized Moore's participation in a signing ceremony for the bill that places the amendment on the ballot, calling it a "photo-op" intended for political posturing. The bill passed with the required three-fifths majorities in both legislative chambers, enabling it to become a ballot question.
The amendment seeks to remove existing requirements for congressional districts to respect natural boundaries and existing county and municipal lines, while retaining these for state legislative districts. Harris described this as a "double standard" and a "blatant attempt to eliminate the Republican representation."
Harris, who has represented Maryland's 1st Congressional District since 2011, has indicated he would pursue legal action if the legislature attempts to dilute Republican voting power in his district, citing a 2022 court ruling that struck down a previous Democratic-proposed congressional map for not sufficiently respecting these boundaries.
Moore, meanwhile, has framed his support for the amendment as a response to Republican redistricting efforts nationwide, which he has characterized as "political redlining." He expressed pride in taking action against what he described as an effort by former President Donald Trump and other Republicans to "rig the system, weaken voting rights, and make this pain permanent."
Harris pushed back against the assertion that Republicans are solely responsible for current redistricting challenges, pointing to redistricting efforts led by Democratic organizations. He also expressed a desire to move away from mid-decade redistricting, stating it is "not good for democracy" as it can disrupt the relationship between constituents and their representatives.
The amendment is also facing a legal challenge from the conservative watchdog group The Oversight Project, which filed a lawsuit alleging that state legislators bypassed the July 1 deadline for introducing statewide ballot questions. The ballot question was introduced on August 3 by Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Senate President Bill Ferguson.