{
  "id": 5443384,
  "title": "Maryland’s top court allows Democratic-backed congressional redistricting measure on November ballot",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/marylands-top-court-allows-democratic-backed-congressional-5443384",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T23:23:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-maryland-gerrymandering-a1686af9bf70692450a19c1374c1e781"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Thursday, Maryland's highest court ruled that a proposed constitutional amendment, backed by Democrats, must be included on the November ballot. This decision overturns two lower court rulings that had previously prohibited the amendment from appearing on the ballot. The victory is significant for Democrats, who are striving to counteract a Republican redistricting initiative spearheaded by President Donald Trump. Currently, Democrats control seven out of Maryland's eight U.S. House seats.\n\nThe proposed amendment would not alter voting districts for the upcoming midterm elections; however, if passed by voters, it could enable Democratic lawmakers to redraw congressional districts that could potentially secure a full party sweep in the 2028 elections. Governor Wes Moore convened lawmakers in August to refer the amendment to the November ballot.\n\nThe amendment seeks to nullify a 2022 court decision that deemed a prior Democratic redistricting plan \"extreme partisan gerrymandering.\" This prior judge had contended that a constitutional provision necessitating compact districts with respect to \"natural boundaries\" should be extended to congressional districts as well. Nevertheless, the proposed amendment would only enforce these parameters on state legislative districts, which might permit lawmakers to create congressional districts that span across the Chesapeake Bay. This could potentially reshape the district currently held by Republican U.S. Representative Andy Harris and the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Lower courts had ruled that lawmakers had not complied with their own guidelines when referring the amendment to the ballot.",
  "summary": "Maryland voters will get to decide in November on a congressional redistricting amendment being pushed by Democrats as part of nationwide battle for control of the U.S. House in future elections. The Maryland Supreme Court…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Maryland’s top court allows Democratic-backed congressional redistricting measure on November ballot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/marylands-top-court-allows-democratic-backed-congressional",
        "published": "2026-09-03T22:54:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}