Senate President Bill Ferguson, who also serves on the commission, defended having congressional districts cut through multiple counties because he said it allows for regional economic planning. line to the Pennsylvania line in that fashion? Before that vote, House Minority Leader Jason Buckel took aim at the sprawling third congressional district.īuckel asked, “Is there any particular rationale for trying to connect six counties together from almost the D.C. The two GOP legislators on the seven-member Redistricting Advisory Commission voted against the proposed map. Republicans are concerned the map being proposed for the next 10 years will be just as gerrymandered. Emblematic of that is a spot at the intersection of York and Cockeysville Roads in Baltimore County where three congressional districts meet, the first, the second and the seventh.įor example, the seventh district meanders through portions of Howard County and Baltimore City, then takes a narrow, northerly path through western Baltimore County, before dropping south to Cockeysville. The current congressional map, passed by Democrats 10 years ago, is considered one of the most gerrymandered in the country. What could give Harris pause about running in another district is that while that map would make the first a tossup, the other seven congressional districts would strongly favor Democrats.

That Congressional map gets an “F” rating for partisan fairness, according to an analysis by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project. The Redistricting Advisory Commission is proposing a map that makes the district more competitive by adding portions of Anne Arundel County. The first district, which includes the Eastern Shore, has been overwhelmingly Republican and Harris has easily won re-election. Harris said he voted against honoring the officers because the bill incorrectly used the word insurrection. “In recent years he has stung many of the residents he represents by voting against certifying results in the 2020 presidential election and also against honoring police officers who fought off an assault on the capitol on January 6, 2021.” Gregory Pearson, who lives in the first district, put it this way. “Andy Harris chose to back the losing candidate and his nefarious actions and his promotion of insurrection,” she said. They want the first district lines redrawn to make it more likely Harris will lose.īeth Connor, who owns a home in the first district, called Harris a threat to our democracy by “turning his back on our constitution by not certifying several states after President Biden’s win.

Several people who want Harris out of Congress did not mince words at a recent hearing held by the Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission. And again, I could run in at least three or four of the districts.” “My name recognition is fairly statewide, especially among Republicans. “It depends on who, which other candidates, Republican candidates pop up in some of the other districts,” Harris said. Members of Congress do not have to live in their districts. Harris said he is not ruling out running in another congressional district, depending on the map the legislature approves. “The Democrats can’t defeat me at the ballot box so they’re going to defeat me on the gerrymander vote, or at least they’re going to attempt to.” Harris says the map is clearly aimed at him. The legislature’s Redistricting Advisory Commission adopted a map on a party line vote last week that would make the first district more competitive for the six term Republican. The outcome could determine whether Congressman Andy Harris decides to run in another district. The General Assembly meets next week in a special session to redraw the congressional district lines.

U.s. rep. andy harris