The Maryland General Assembly will return to Annapolis for a three-day Special Session from August 3-5, 2026, with a single focus: congressional redistricting. Unlike a typical legislative session, lawmakers will consider only legislation related to congressional district boundaries. Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk have said no unrelated policy proposals will be introduced.
The Special Session follows years of legal and political disputes over Maryland's congressional maps. In 2022, a Maryland state court struck down the state's congressional map, ruling that the Maryland Constitution's requirements for political boundaries apply to congressional districts as well as state legislative districts.
Governor Wes Moore and Democratic legislative leaders are seeking to respond with a proposed constitutional amendment that would clarify that those state constitutional restrictions do not apply to congressional districts, giving the General Assembly greater power when drawing future congressional maps.
To advance, the amendment must:
- Receive a three-fifths vote in both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate.
- Be approved by Maryland voters on the November 2026 General Election ballot.
State leaders cite both legal and election-related considerations. They argue recent developments involving the federal Voting Rights Act have increased the importance of clarifying Maryland's constitutional framework for congressional redistricting. That it would give lawmakers greater flexibility to draw congressional districts that reflect the state's population and respond to redistricting actions in other states.
Meeting in August also ensures that if approved by lawmakers, the amendment can appear on the November 2026 ballot without disrupting election preparations.
Critics argue it could reduce constitutional constraints on the legislature and allow more partisan mapmaking.
Even if voters approve the amendment, any changes to congressional districts would require future redistricting legislation.
Key questions during the Special Session include:
- What final language will the amendment contain?
- How will voters respond in November?
- If approved, how could future congressional maps change?
Although the Special Session is scheduled to last only three days, its outcome could shape Maryland's congressional redistricting process for years to come. If lawmakers approve the amendment, the final decision will rest with Maryland voters in November 2026.
article by AFT Maryland staff
2026-07-31