Maryland judge spares state’s last Republican representative — for now

A Maryland judge ruled on Wednesday that the Democrats’ attempt to gerrymander their state’s lone Republican congressional district out of existence was legally deficient.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Robert Thompson held that the redistricting measure HB 2100 threatening Rep. Andy Harris’ (R-Md.) seat should not move forward as part of a November referendum. Anticipating an appeal to the Maryland Supreme Court, Thompson stayed his order.

‘When are we going to be honest with the people and say, “Your government can do whatever it wants”?’

Oversight Project vice president of litigation Jeffrey Clark represented the plaintiffs, arguing that Maryland Democrats ran roughshod over their own deadlines and election statutes.

HB 2100 was introduced August 3, despite statutory codes mandating that any modifications to statewide ballot measures be