Maryland Democrats Should Support Redistricting Reform

In order to see bipartisan redistricting reform in Maryland, it's going to take a bipartisan effort by those in Annapolis. Sadly, we're not sure that the willingness is there from the Democratic majority, which isn't in any hurry to lose its stranglehold on state politics. However, if the election of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan was a sign that the tide is turning in Maryland, perhaps they should consider it.

Hogan, who has been outspoken about redistricting reform since before he took office, on Tuesday introduced legislation that would replace the current, governor-led redistricting process with a nonpartisan Apportionment Commission that would be required to base the districts on "population, compactness and natural boundaries … as opposed to politics and partisanship," according to a news release from the Governor's Office. The bill is expected to be formally introduced to the General Assembly today, along with a few others the governor identified as priorities.

Carroll County has certainly felt the effects of the last go-around of both congressional and legislative redistricting. Long a part of the 6th Congressional District with politically similar Western Maryland counties, Carroll was severed into two districts — one represented by the lone Maryland Republican in Congress, Andy Harris, the other by left-leaning Chris Van Hollen. Nevermind that the redrawn 6th District produced another Democrat in Congress. Legislative districts were redrawn here as well, giving Howard and Frederick counties more say in Districts 4 and 9, both of which include slivers of Carroll County.

And that's not even the worst of it. Maryland's 3rd Congressional District is considered one of the most gerrymandered in the nation, once referred to as being the shape of a broken-winged pterodactyl.

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