The two major party contenders in the Maryland governor’s race are fresh off their only debate ahead of the November election.
One of the issues they debated was Question 3, an initiative that will appear on the ballot dealing with congressional redistricting.
Supporters say it’s an answer to redistricting in red states, while critics call it gerrymandering.
Moore has been clear that he thinks it’s the answer to President Donald Trump’s push for redistricting in red states to maintain the GOP majority in Congress.
“When you’re watching the president talk about putting federal agents around ballot boxes, requesting voter rolls from the states, we are watching a robbery of democracy in broad daylight,” Moore said in the debate. “And we are not going to allow Donald Trump to determine our democracy — the people of Maryland should determine our democracy, so I will be voting yes.”
“There is no vote yes if you read it,” Cox responded. “In fact, is there a complete sentence in this ballot initiative, governor? No, there’s not.”
Cox went on to quote opinion pieces, including one from November 2025 that said Moore “embarrasses Maryland with his gerrymandering ploy.”
Critics say if Question 3 passes, Democrats, who hold a supermajority in the legislature, could change congressional districts to force out the single GOP congressman in the state — Rep. Andy Harris on the Eastern Shore
“This is not about your so-called concerns about federal issues,” Cox said. “In fact, if it’s wrong for them, I’m saying, I agree, it’s wrong for Maryland, it’s wrong for you, sir.”
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Institute of Politics conducted a poll on Question 3, it says,in part, “[…] A vote for Question 3 eliminates the state’s requirement that congressional districts be compact and connected, removing constraints on how state lawmakers can draw congressional district lines. A vote against keeps those requirements in place.”
According to the poll, 25% plan to vote yes, 53% plan to vote no and 19% are undecided.
“When you talk about the question regarding sort of how they’ll draw congressional district lines and what a vote for and against actually means in plain language, you find that there’s not a ton of support,” said Mileah Kromer, the director of UMBC’s Institute of Politics.
Fight Back Maryland, the Democratic campaign supporting Question 3, took issue with the poll question, saying it tested GOP talking points.
“When voters hear what’s at stake, a majority support Question 3, and that’s why the final count on Election Day won’t look anything like this poll,” they said.
Kromer said voters generally don’t support redrawing districts to favor one party, but when put in the context of why it’s being done, it’s more nuanced.
“There are people who say they don’t like it and we shouldn’t do it, but there’s about 30% of Marylanders say they don’t like it, but they sometimes think it’s necessary,” Kromer said.
If Question 3 passes, Democratic lawmakers could redraw congressional districts in time for the 2028 election.
