Marylanders Say Congressional Maps Unfair, But They Have Higher Priorities Than Redistricting

By Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters

Decembber 15, 2025

While Gov. Wes Moore (D) awaits the advisory commission’s decision on whether to engage in mid-cycle redistricting of congressional districts, a new poll provides insight into how Maryland residents feel about it.

In short, they are not fans.

The poll by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said that 81% of Marylanders polled said purposely redrawing congressional district lines to favor one party over another is “a major” problem for American democracy.

“I think it’s important to keep in mind that there are a lot of things going on, not just in Maryland, but nationwide, right?” said Mileah Kromer, director of the poll.

Besides seeing partisan redistricting as a major problem, the poll also showed a majority of Marylanders would prefer to separate elected officials from the redistricting process. Nearly two out of three voters said they would prefer a nonpartisan, independent commission to handle redistricting. Only 12% said they favored a system where elected officials draw the lines.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) repeatedly proposed such a panel during his two terms, and appointed one to draft a plan in the 2021 redistricting process. The Democrat-controlled General Assembly instead named its own panel and approved the map it drafted, which was later struck down in court.

The poll surveyed 801 Maryland adults, including 769 registered voters, between Dec. 2 and Dec. 6. The margin of error for both pools of respondents is plus or minus 3.5%.

Questioning the fairness of maps

The poll would seem to be bad news for Moore, who has pushed for redistricting, and seemingly good news for Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D), who has been equally steadfast in opposition.

It follows weeks of hearings by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission, in which testimony was mostly split. The latest meeting was on Friday.

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Moore appointed the commission as a precursor to joining a national effort by Republicans and Democrats to engage in hyper-partisan, mid-decade redistricting. President Donald Trump (R) touched off the tit-for-tat redistricting by pushing Texas to redraw its lines to favor Republicans. California responded by redistricting to favor Democrats, and neutralize Texas’ changes.

Moore has repeatedly said that he just wants to make sure that Maryland’s maps are fair. But he has also acknowledged that the effort is a response to the national push, saying in October that the state is “not going to bend the knee to Donald Trump.”

Democrats account for 51.5% of all registered voters in the state, while Republicans and unaffiliated voters make up a little less than 25% each. Even so, seven of eight congressional districts are held by Democrats.

The UMBC poll asked Marylanders about the current maps, finalized three years ago. Those who answered agreed with Moore that the maps are not fair: A plurality — 41% — said the maps are unfair, about 28% deemed the maps fair, while 29% said they didn’t know.

“Our numbers definitely suggest that people do recognize that they’re unfairly drawn,” Kromer said.

But there is some disagreement on who benefits the most. Of those who said the maps were unfair, 33% said the current maps favor Democrats, while just 8% said Republicans are favored.

The responses should not come as a shock, Kromer said.

“I think anybody who’s paid any attention feels that this is not big news that people think that,” she said.

‘Nuanced opinions’

The poll found that 30% were paying a lot of attention to the redistricting machinations in the state and 29% were paying “some” attention. Another 18% paid “a little” attention and 17% had not paid attention at all.

Of the 77% who said they paid at least a little attention to the issue, 40% said they do not like the idea and that it should not be done. About one in five said they do not like it, but it is necessary, while 7% said they like it even though it’s “the wrong thing to do.”

Another 24% said they liked the idea and that state leaders should redraw the maps.

“I think that folks have this sort of nuanced opinion,” Kromer said. “Those people, I think, are the most interesting.”

Those with nuanced opinions are “probably people who could be moveable on the issue,” except for the fact that redistricting is “not that big a priority,” Kromer said.

Pocketbook issues override redistricting concerns

In general, the UMBC poll found most Marylanders have other issues on their minds.

Pocketbook issues topped the poll’s list of priorities, with 25% focused on the economy, jobs, and cost of living, followed by taxes, the budget, and government spending at 23%. Just 15% focused on topics of government leadership, politics, and democracy.

“There’s a considerable difference and what people prioritize in the state,” Kromer said. “When economic anxiety is high and people are worried about the everyday cost of living. it is hard to get an issue like this [redistricting] to break through.”

When asked what issues should be a “high” priority for state government, the cost of health care, the quality of K-12 public education and reducing crime/improving public safety were each ranked as high priorities by 73% or more of those asked.

About 67% ranked taxes and fees paid by residents as a high priority, followed by the cost and availability of housing, and household energy costs at 65% each. Another 61% rated economic growth and development as a high priority.

Two transportation issues made the list: About 42% rated the quality of roads and highways as a top priority, and 34% said the same about the availability and quality of public transportation.

Redrawing congressional district lines came in last. Just 27% said it was a top priority.