Democrats in Maryland are playing a dangerous game with congressional maps, threatening to silence the state’s sole Republican voice.
Fox News reported that Rep. Andy Harris, the lone GOP congressman in Maryland’s delegation, warns that redrawing district lines could sever the state’s bipartisan link to the White House. This move smells like a power grab dressed up as politics as usual.
Maryland’s redistricting saga is part of a national battle, with Texas Republicans pushing a map to gain up to five House seats, while Democrats in California and New York plot their gerrymandering schemes.
Harris, representing Maryland’s 1st District, is the state’s only GOP connection to federal power. Losing that voice would leave Marylanders without a balanced say in Washington.
“Right now, as the sole Republican representative, I’m the liaison between the state and the executive branch,” Harris told Fox News Digital. He’s right—wiping him out risks leaving Maryland a one-party echo chamber. Democrats might cheer, but voters lose when representation becomes a monopoly.
The redistricting fight isn’t new, but it’s getting nastier. In 2022, Maryland’s attempt to redraw lines crashed in court, a rare win for fair play. Harris hopes history repeats, warning that another try “might fail again.”
“I don’t think Marylanders are going to put up with that,” Harris said. His optimism is refreshing, but Maryland’s Democratic machine has a history of bulldozing opposition. Voters may need to stay vigilant to keep their state’s delegation diverse.
Texas sparked this latest flare-up, with Gov. Greg Abbott backing a map to boost GOP seats. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, called it a “power grab” while mulling his options. The hypocrisy is thick—both sides are playing the same game, just with different jerseys.
Moore’s office told Fox News Digital he’s “evaluating all options” as states jockey for advantage. That sounds like code for drawing maps that favor Democrats. Marylanders deserve better than political cartography that prioritizes party over people.
Harris isn’t mincing words: “The Democrats started it.” He’s got a point—blue states like California and New York are sidestepping independent commissions to tilt the playing field. It’s a race to the bottom, and Maryland’s caught in the crossfire.
“I think that we should probably shy away from mid-cycle redistricting,” Harris said. Mid-cycle map changes are a sneaky tactic, disrupting the normal decennial process. It’s a move that screams desperation, not principle.
Other states show the stakes. In Alabama, courts forced a map with two majority-Black districts after claims the old one violated the Voting Rights Act. Both seats went to Democrats, proving redistricting can reshape power overnight.
Harris also raised a broader issue: the census. “If we weren’t counting illegal aliens in our census, there would be 10 to 12, maybe 15 fewer Democrats in the House,” he said. It’s a provocative point, but it sidesteps the immediate fight over Maryland’s maps.
President Trump’s call for a snap census excluding unauthorized migrants adds fuel to the fire. It’s a bold idea, but unlikely to resolve the current redistricting mess. Harris’s focus remains on keeping Maryland’s lone GOP seat intact.
“The governor talks a lot about bipartisanship,” Harris noted, calling out Moore’s rhetoric. A one-party delegation would mock that claim, leaving Marylanders with less clout in a divided Washington. It’s a gamble Moore might regret if the political winds shift.
The redistricting war spans states with lopsided delegations, from Maryland to California. Each side accuses the other of rigging the game, but voters are the real losers. Fair maps should reflect people, not party bosses.
Harris’s warning is clear: Maryland’s lone Republican voice matters. Democrats may see his seat as a trophy, but erasing it would cost the state more than they think. Let’s hope the courts—or the voters—keep the scales balanced.
