“Free and fair elections are the very foundation of American democracy, and the most basic promise that those in power can pledge to citizens.” -Governor Larry Hogan
OUR PLAN
Continuing his fight to restore free and fair elections, Governor Hogan has once again introduced the Redistricting Reform Act. He has proposed similar legislation in four previous sessions that the General Assembly has failed to bring to the floor for a simple vote.
The legislation creates a nonpartisan redistricting commission with a transparent process to ensure fairness in drawing both congressional and legislative districts.
Recent redistricting cycles have earned Maryland the dubious distinction as one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. In 1994, Maryland’s legislative maps were invalidated for failing to create a majority-minority district as required by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. District maps were again overturned in 2002 for repeated crossings of lines between Baltimore City and Baltimore County that improperly prioritized political goals over constitutional congruence standards.
“The people of Maryland desperately want and certainly deserve balance, fairness, and bipartisanship in our state. This isn’t a fight between the right and the left; this is a fight between right and wrong,” said Governor Hogan. “We have an opportunity – right now – to take action here in Maryland. Let’s all work together to do the right thing.”
OUR BILLS
Learn about the status of our legislation on the Maryland General Assembly website.
(HB 341/SB 266) Redistricting Reform Act of 2020
OUR RECORD
- Introduced Redistricting Reform Act four years in a row
- Established Emergency Commission on Sixth Congressional District Gerrymandering, a bipartisan commission to examine Maryland’s redistricting process
- Submitted a bipartisan amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of the plaintiffs in Benisek v. Lamone, which challenged the constitutionality of Maryland’s gerrymandered 6th Congressional District
- Partnered with Common Cause Maryland to advocate for redistricting reform
LATEST NEWS
Governor’s Office Delivers Gerrymandering Valentines to Maryland Legislators
Governor Hogan Signs Common Cause’s “End Gerrymandering Pledge”
Statement from Governor Hogan on Supreme Court Gerrymandering Decision
Report of Maryland’s Emergency Commission on Sixth Congressional District Gerrymandering
Governors Hogan and Schwarzenegger File Joint Amicus Brief with U.S. Supreme Court