Maryland redistricting: Senator raises 2026 primary delay to redraw map

BALTIMORE - With Maryland's primaries a month away, a Charles County senator is urging lawmakers to return to Annapolis - and even delay the election - to redraw congressional maps after a new Supreme Court ruling, setting up a clash with Senate leaders he accuses of blocking action.

State Sen. Arthur Ellis on Tuesday called for a special legislative session to redraw the state's congressional maps, targeting Senate President Bill Ferguson, who firmly opposed mid-cycle redistricting during the 2026 session.

Redrawing the map could significantly reshape Maryland's congressional delegation, potentially eliminating the state's lone Republican-held district. Republican leaders have called the effort politically motivated, noting Ellis is running for Congress. It remains unclear whether a special session will be called.

Asked whether the push is politically motivated, Ellis said he has long advocated for redistricting changes and rejected the idea that his campaign influenced his stance. "This is me. This is my voice. Something is wrong, I speak up. I'm not changing because of politics," he said.

The proposal also raises logistical concerns. Ballots for Maryland's primary are scheduled to be mailed on May 11, and altering district lines could increase election administration costs.

"Yes," Ellis said when asked if the primary should be postponed. "Let's be leaders in protecting this democracy. Hold the process for a few weeks and do what we have to do."

He added that lawmakers could pause the election process, hold hearings and approve new maps within weeks, pointing to states such as Louisiana that have delayed elections to redraw districts.

Ellis was joined by Bobby LaPin, who is challenging Ferguson for the Baltimore City state Senate seat. LaPin echoed the call for a floor vote and urged legislative leaders or the governor to act.

"If that doesn't occur," LaPin said, "I'm calling on the members of the Maryland Senate to relieve Bill Ferguson of his duties."

The push follows a Supreme Court ruling last week limiting the use of race in redistricting, as well as a failed effort earlier this year by some Maryland Democrats to redraw congressional lines before the 2026 elections. The House of Delegates passed a redistricting plan in February, but the Senate declined to take it up.

Ellis briefly protested that inaction during the session. He also remained vice chair of the Senate Rules Committee - which controls whether legislation reaches the floor - until the end of the session, but did not move to advance the bill. He said support was lacking among committee members aligned with leadership.

"I knew the votes were not there," Ellis said. "What I wanted was for a majority of Democratic senators to stand up to say, ‘Hey, our voters want these actions,' but they never stood up."

Still, Ellis sharply criticized Ferguson, accusing him of using procedural powers to block debate and saying Senate Democrats "drank the Kool-Aid" by falling in line with leadership.

"That level of disrespect is unacceptable," Ellis said. "We ask him to come home. Come back to the Democratic Party. Come back to the Democratic voters who elected you as a Democrat. Come back to the Democrats who selected you as the presiding officer."

Ferguson has said his opposition is based on legal and political risks tied to mid-cycle redistricting, including the possibility that courts could strike down a new map and cost Democrats a congressional seat. His office declined to comment on Tuesday.

Ellis and LaPin framed their push as part of a broader national fight, emphasizing that Maryland should respond to redistricting efforts in Republican-controlled states.

Still, Ellis acknowledged that redrawing Maryland's map for partisan advantage would amount to gerrymandering - which he called "a bad idea" - but described it as a necessary "defensive tactic." LaPin added: "We didn't start this."

Ellis said he has not spoken with legislative leaders, the governor, or fellow senators about this call to action, but believes momentum could shift following the court's decision and lawmakers' time away from Annapolis.

For now, the standoff leaves Maryland Democrats divided over how aggressively to respond to redistricting battles nationwide - and whether to revisit congressional maps in the middle of an election cycle.

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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 3:49 PM.