Delegate Michael Hough To Introduce the Maryland Fair Representation Congressional Plan

(Annapolis, MD) Delegate Michael Hough (Frederick & Washington Counties) will introduce “The Maryland Fair Representation Congressional Plan” during the upcoming special session next week. This plan is being spearheaded by the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee, which advocates for African American candidates and issues. Senator E.J. Pipkin is introducing the bill in the Senate--see the attached congressional map and letter to the members of the Maryland House of Delegates.

Delegate Hough said, “I am proud to work with the Fannie Lou Hamer PAC because we share the belief that redistricting for the purpose of incumbency protection and partisan political gain do a disservice to all who seek individual liberty and transparency in governance.”

The proposed congressional plan places all of Western Maryland into the Sixth Congressional District and places all of the Eastern Shore and related rural areas into the First Congressional District.  It creates a Chesapeake Bay District composed of Anne Arundel, Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties. The plan leaves Baltimore City in one congressional district and largely leaves Montgomery County intact.

The plan as proposed by the Governor’s Council on Redistricting gerrymanders congressional districts across the state and disenfranchises African Americans and voters in rural areas like Western Maryland.  The Fannie Lou Hamer PAC said the following about the Governor’s plan, “African American communities in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County’s are being diluted for the purposes of electing Congressman Hoyer, Congressman Sarbanes and Congressman Ruppersberger.”

Delegate Hough’s and the Fannie Lou Hammer congressional plan creates three (3) African American congressional districts. This plan also creates a Hispanic influenced congressional district drawn from populations in Montgomery and Prince George’s County.

The Governor’s plan maintains the status quo of two majority African American districts, despite population growth in minority communities, and shamelessly divides communities and neighborhoods. The Governor’s plan also divides Frederick County into two gerrymandered congressional districts that split the rural vote in Western Maryland for no other purpose than partisan gain.

Delegate Hough concluded “The Maryland Fair Representation Congressional Plan does not divide minority populations and geographic areas and will therefore provide accurate and fair representation for all the citizens of Maryland. The plan put forward by the Governor’s Council is simply a partisan gerrymandered mess that divides communities and disenfranchises voters across the state”