House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) signaled confidence that Democrats will ultimately prevail in an internal Maryland dispute over a proposed redistricting plan, even as the measure remains stalled by State Senate President Bill Ferguson.
In a recent interview on CNN with Manu Raju, Jeffries praised Maryland Governor Wes Moore for backing the plan, calling him “strong, resilient, patriotic, and visionary” on the issue. The proposal, already approved by the Maryland House of Delegates, would be put before voters as a referendum, allowing them to decide the future of the state’s congressional map.
Jeffries framed the approach as a contrast with Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states. He stated that Democrats are taking maps directly to the voters, while Republicans are pushing through partisan maps in state legislatures without public input. He pointed to similar efforts in California and Virginia as part of a broader strategy to counter what he described as a Republican push, at the behest of President Donald Trump, to gerrymander congressional maps and rig the midterm elections.
Jeffries: ‘One Man Shouldn’t Stand In The Way Of The People Of Maryland’
The plan’s fate in Maryland now rests largely with Ferguson, who has not brought the legislation to the Senate floor. When asked by Raju whether the Senate president could cost Democrats a House majority if he continues to block a vote, Jeffries said Ferguson would “have to live with that” outcome—but added he does not believe it will come to that.
According to Jeffries, there is already majority support for the measure in the Maryland State Senate. He said the only step needed is for Ferguson to allow an up-or-down vote. “One man shouldn’t stand in the way of the people of Maryland, through their representatives in the State Senate, being able to decide should we go in this direction or should we not answer Donald Trump’s continued efforts to rig the midterm elections,” Jeffries stated.
Ferguson has expressed concerns that the plan could trigger legal challenges and potentially backfire politically. Jeffries dismissed those concerns, however, stating that the Senate president is simply “not right” about those risks.
Jeffries also acknowledged he has not spoken with Ferguson in several weeks, though he expects to have a conversation with him if the impasse continues. For now, he expressed hope that Ferguson will change course in the coming days and allow the State Senate to vote on the measure.
