Leading Maryland Democrat shoots down redistricting push

Source: NBC NEWS

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson dashed Democrats' hopes the state would join the national redistricting battle, telling colleagues that the chamber would not try to redraw the state's congressional map.

“The Senate is choosing not to move forward with mid-cycle congressional redistricting,” Ferguson said in a three-page letter to state Democratic lawmakers that was shared with NBC News. “In short, the risk of redrawing the congressional map in Maryland is too high, making the unlikely possibility that we gain a seat not worth pursuing.”

Maryland is among the Democratic-led states the party has been eyeing to respond to Republicans enacting new gerrymandered maps in three states at President Donald Trump's urging ahead of next year's midterm elections.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has held discussions with members of the Maryland delegation and Gov. Wes Moore, and state Sen. Clarence Lam introduced a bill to draw new district lines. Jeffries was informed Tuesday that Ferguson planned to announce the decision not to move forward with new maps, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/top-maryland-democrat-shoots-down-redistricting-push-rcna240471