Maryland Gov. Wes Moore backs HB 488 map as House panel weighs mid-cycle congressional redistricting

Hearing centers on proposed new boundaries ahead of 2026 election deadlines

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appeared January 27, 2026, before the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee to support House Bill 488, legislation that would replace Maryland’s current congressional district boundaries with a new map recommended by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission.

The bill was introduced January 23, 2026, and scheduled for a committee hearing on January 27. HB 488 is structured as a constitutional bill tied to a referendum, a procedural approach that can affect both the timeline and the legal pathway for implementing new lines.

What the commission did and how its recommendation reached lawmakers

Moore reconstituted the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission on November 4, 2025, tasking it with gathering public input and producing recommendations as national political parties pursue mid-cycle changes to congressional maps in multiple states. The commission ultimately voted to forward a proposal identified as “Map #37” for legislative consideration, and its work formed the basis of HB 488.

Commission meetings were held on multiple dates from November 2025 through mid-January 2026. After the commission advanced its recommendation, the legislative process shifted to the General Assembly, where committees evaluate whether a map can satisfy constitutional requirements and be implemented in time for upcoming elections.

Key issues raised: legality, timing, and political impact

Moore’s testimony framed the proposal as a response to concerns about representation and electoral competitiveness. The hearing also occurred amid public debate over whether mid-cycle redistricting increases litigation risk and disrupts election administration.

One focal point is the state’s only Republican-held U.S. House seat. The proposed map has been widely discussed as potentially reshaping the electoral landscape in ways that could affect that district, while also creating downstream effects in adjacent districts. Redrawing lines can alter where incumbents run, how primaries unfold, and how campaigns allocate resources.

Another issue is timing. Maryland’s 2026 election calendar includes a candidate filing deadline of February 24, 2026, and a primary scheduled for June 23, 2026. Implementing new districts close to those dates can raise administrative challenges for local election officials and uncertainty for candidates and voters.

Where the proposal stands now

HB 488 remains in the legislative process following the House committee hearing. Any change to Maryland’s congressional map would require additional action in the General Assembly and, under the bill’s structure, would be contingent on voter approval at a referendum.

• Bill: HB 488, introduced January 23, 2026

• Hearing: January 27, 2026, House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee

• Election dates: Candidate filing deadline February 24, 2026; primary June 23, 2026

Redistricting in the middle of a decade remains rare nationally, and Maryland’s debate is unfolding as both parties look for strategic advantages in control of the U.S. House.