Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has publicly expressed his opposition to Question 3, a significant ballot measure set to appear in the 2026 midterm elections. Hogan, a Republican, argues that the measure “moves us backwards.”
Question 3 aims to allow Maryland lawmakers to redraw congressional district maps. If passed, it would remove the current requirement in the Maryland state constitution that mandates congressional districts be compact and connected. Voters who oppose the measure would maintain the existing criteria.
In a post on X, Hogan criticized the proposed change, stating it would grant “partisan mapmakers more freedom to divide our communities, combine distant areas, and manipulate district boundaries to produce the election results they want.” He emphasized that this shift would enable politicians to choose their voters instead of citizens selecting their representatives.
Hogan’s Stance Against Gerrymandering
Hogan reiterated his long-standing opposition to gerrymandering, stressing that voters in Maryland have the opportunity to voice their concerns. “Politicians should not be rewarded with the power to erase the constitutional requirements they violated,” he stated. “We shouldn’t take Maryland back to the days when our congressional maps were held up as some of the worst, most gerrymandered in America. If politicians won’t do the right thing, Maryland voters should do it for them. Vote against Question 3.”
Should Question 3 pass, it could potentially eliminate the only Republican congressional seat located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
The measure has received support from current Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who argues that it is essential to counteract efforts by the Trump administration to redraw congressional maps across the country in favor of Republicans.
Critics of the redistricting measure warn that removing the current constraints could empower the dominant party in Maryland’s General Assembly to create unfair congressional maps, potentially disadvantaging non-majority voters in various regions of the state.
In a recent development, former President Barack Obama released a political advertisement urging Maryland residents to vote in favor of Question 3. In the ad, Obama addresses voters directly, stating, “In this election, I’m counting on you to vote yes on Question 3. And here’s why. You may have heard that Republicans in Washington got some states to redraw their congressional maps in the middle of an election year. They did it to try and hold onto power in Congress. You can help stop this Republican power grab by voting yes on Question 3. It lets Maryland draw its own fair maps.”
Advertising Support for Question 3
Governor Moore’s re-election campaign is investing $500,000 to air the ad in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore television markets, as reported by our media partner, the Baltimore Banner.
