GOP preparing legal challenge to restricting effort that could cut GOP's sole MD House seat

Republicans are preparing a legal challenge to Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's restricting effort that could cut out the GOP's sole House seat. Moore, who has said he is not running for president in 2028, is creating a commission that will consider a new House map.

His move follows the adoption of a new map in Texas that could add five additional GOP House seats and redistricting in California that could result in five more Democratic House seats.

“My commitment has been clear from day one — we will explore every avenue possible to make sure Maryland has fair and representative maps,” he said in a statement. 

Sole GOP seat on chopping block

Former Gov. Larry Hogan called the establishment of the restricting commission a "cancer on our democracy" on Sunday.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., is the only sitting Republican House member from Maryland.

His office was not available for comment before publication.

Del. Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County) said she is ready for a new map and that she and Harris are in touch with the legal team they had worked with in 2022.

Szeliga led the effort to challenge redrawn congressional districts in Maryland three years ago.

"We haven’t signed any papers, but we’ve got it teed up to go right back to the Supreme Court," she said, referring to the state Supreme Court.

A Washington Post op-ed described Moore's restricting effort as embarrassing.

Szeliga said the formation of the commission seems "like Kabuki theater [...] It’s very theatrical, big on theatrics and short on substantial, genuine efforts to serve the citizens of the state of Maryland," she said.