The two candidates for Maryland’s 1st Congressional District agree on at least one thing: Annapolis should not redraw it.
Eight-term incumbent Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican, says western shore Democrats “want to control the whole state” and are trying to eliminate Maryland’s only Republican-held congressional seat.
His Democratic challenger in November, Dan Schwartz, calls the current statewide map “a devil of our own design,” but says Democrats should not redraw it mid-decade.
Both candidates said in interviews this week that congressional districts should be drawn without partisan manipulation. Harris said he has long supported nonpartisan redistricting, while Schwartz said he would work to end partisan gerrymandering and mid-decade redraws.
Their unusual agreement comes as Gov. Wes Moore and legislative leaders prepare to bring lawmakers back to Annapolis for a special session on Aug. 3.
The goal of the special session is to clear a legal path for mid-decade congressional redistricting and send a proposed constitutional amendment to voters in November, officials say.
If voters approve, then state lawmakers could draw a new congressional map for use before the regular redistricting cycle that follows the 2030 census. Any changes would take effect no earlier than the 2028 election.
Devil democrats in Annapolis!!!