The UMBC poll finds only 27% of Maryland residents view redrawing congressional maps as a top priority, well below concerns about health care, education and crime. Gov. Wes Moore has urged mid‑decade redistricting to try to flip the state’s lone Republican House seat, but he faces resistance from Democratic leaders and mixed public opinion. The survey of 801 adults (Dec. 2–6) shows sharp partisan splits over whether the maps are fair and whether mid‑cycle redistricting should proceed; margin of error ±3.5%.
Maryland Voters Tepid on Wes Moore’s Push to Redraw Congressional Maps
Fewer than one-third of Maryland residents consider redrawing the state’s congressional districts a top priority, according to a University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) poll released Monday — a setback for Gov. Wes Moore’s effort to pursue mid‑decade map changes aimed at flipping the state’s lone Republican-held U.S. House seat.
What the Poll Found
The survey of 801 Maryland adults, conducted Dec. 2–6 and funded by UMBC’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, found just 27% of respondents labeled redistricting a “high” priority. That trails other voter concerns by a wide margin: 77% named health care costs a high priority, 75% cited the quality of K–12 education and 73% pointed to reducing crime.
Respondents were split on whether the state’s current congressional maps are fair: 28% said the lines are drawn fairly, 41% said they are drawn unfairly and 29% had no opinion.
Partisan Differences
Views diverged sharply by party. Among Democrats, 37% said the maps are fair; among Democrats who called the maps unfair, 18% said the lines favor Democrats and 10% said they favor Republicans. Among Republicans, only 17% said the maps are fair; of Republicans who said the maps are unfair, 63% said the lines favor Democrats and just 3% said they favor Republicans.
Attention to the debate is relatively high: 61% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans said they were paying at least some attention to redistricting discussions. But opinions about whether lawmakers should pursue mid‑decade changes split along party lines. Among Democrats, opinions ranged from opposition to active support. Among Republicans, 67% said they don’t like mid‑decade redistricting and it should not be done.
“This is not a huge priority for Maryland voters,” said Mileah Kromer, director of UMBC’s Institute of Politics. “Perhaps one of the reasons it hasn't really caught on as a major priority is because over the last year, Maryland voters continue to express concerns about the economic situation in the state.”
Political Context
Gov. Wes Moore has publicly urged lawmakers for months to consider redrawing maps to increase the Democratic Party’s chances in future elections. He has faced pushback from within his own party, including from State Senate President Bill Ferguson, who argues that mid‑cycle changes could threaten Maryland Democrats’ strong congressional position — Democrats currently hold seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats.
The debate in Maryland follows a recent episode in Indiana, where a Trump-backed plan for mid‑decade redistricting that could have cost Democrats seats was rejected by that state’s Republican-led Senate. That outcome eased pressure on some Democratic-led states considering similar moves.
Why It Matters
Proponents say mid‑cycle redistricting can correct partisan gerrymanders and improve electoral fairness; opponents argue it erodes the principle of stable, predictable districts and can be used for partisan advantage. In Maryland, public priorities — especially economic concerns after recent tax and fee increases and the fallout from a prolonged federal government shutdown — appear to have pushed redistricting lower on voters’ lists.
Methodology: The poll contacted 801 Maryland adults (a majority of whom were registered voters) between Dec. 2 and Dec. 6. The margin of error is ±3.5 percentage points.
