Maryland general election, November 3, 2026
Arguments for and against Question 3.
Question 3 would change the Maryland Constitution, and it does not draw a map. Governor Moore has said he will campaign for Question 3.
The quotes below are named people’s own words, and this site’s view is in a separate box.
What supporters say
The case for it, in their words.
“keeps existing law whole, in that it says that the U.S. Constitution and federal laws are what apply to congressional maps.”
Senate President Bill Ferguson, before the lawsuit
Maryland Matters, Aug. 7, 2026, on the bill that became Question 3.
“we've been working very closely with … the Attorney General's office, but also constitutional experts … because we wanted to make sure that we didn't just get this done, but that we got this done right.”
Governor Moore, Aug. 5, 2026
Maryland Matters, Aug. 7, 2026. An excerpt, on drafting the amendment.
“This map is not about getting eight Democrats. It's about getting eight congressmen — Republicans or Democrats — to stand up against this poorly veiled autocratic autocracy.”
Delegate C.T. Wilson
The Baltimore Banner, Feb. 2, 2026, on House Bill 488. That bill paired a new map with the same constitutional clauses. It is not the ballot question by itself.
What opponents say
The case against it, in their words.
“This bill is a deliberate, intentional effort to eliminate an entire political minority from Maryland's congressional delegation.”
Delegate Kathy Szeliga
The Baltimore Banner, Feb. 2, 2026, on House Bill 488.
“To rid Maryland of any Republican representation in Congress and disenfranchise voters in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore.”
House Minority Leader Jason Buckel
Maryland Matters, Jan. 21, 2026, on the governor’s redistricting commission. “Disenfranchise” is his word.
“breaks apart more neighborhoods and communities than our existing map, and it fails the constitutional requirement of one person, one vote.”
Senate President Bill Ferguson, who voted no
Maryland Matters, Jan. 21, 2026, on the January map concept. He is also quoted above, on the August bill.
“They blatantly missed the dates, and then they tried to cover it up with some legal language.”
Delegate Matt Morgan, a plaintiff
Maryland Matters, Aug. 7, 2026, on how Question 3 was written for the ballot.
“Maryland voters reading it would not understand that the criteria being removed include the guarantees of the Declaration of Rights.”
Justice Steven Gould, joined by Senior Justice Glenn Harrell, dissenting, Sept. 3, 2026
On the wording the court put on the ballot. He wrote that it “remains misleading.”
Our view
This site’s view, kept separate.
Our view
Other states redrawing their maps is a reason to push for fair rules everywhere, not to give up Maryland’s own. And a change this large should not reach voters on a ballot that does not say what it does.
Why we’re against it, on the whole storyWho has taken a side
Only the names this site can source.
Governor Moore has said he will campaign for Question 3. Reporting: Fox Baltimore.
Fight Back Maryland paid for a poll and supports Question 3. Protect Maryland Votes paid for a poll and opposes it. This site has not confirmed any other group’s role from its sources, so it does not name one.
The numbers and the wording of those two polls, and of UMBC’s, are on the polls page.
Questions
Short answers.
What do supporters of Maryland Question 3 say?
Governor Moore has said he will campaign for Question 3. Before a lawsuit, Senate President Bill Ferguson said the bill “keeps existing law whole, in that it says that the U.S. Constitution and federal laws are what apply to congressional maps.” About House Bill 488, Delegate C.T. Wilson said, “This map is not about getting eight Democrats. It's about getting eight congressmen — Republicans or Democrats — to stand up against this poorly veiled autocratic autocracy.”
What do opponents of Maryland Question 3 say?
About House Bill 488, Delegate Kathy Szeliga said, “This bill is a deliberate, intentional effort to eliminate an entire political minority from Maryland's congressional delegation.” Jason Buckel said the January commission’s goal was “To rid Maryland of any Republican representation in Congress and disenfranchise voters in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore.” Bill Ferguson, voting no on that January map concept, said it “breaks apart more neighborhoods and communities than our existing map, and it fails the constitutional requirement of one person, one vote.” Matt Morgan said of the ballot wording, “They blatantly missed the dates, and then they tried to cover it up with some legal language.” Justice Steven Gould, joined by Senior Justice Glenn Harrell, dissenting, Sept. 3, 2026 wrote that “Maryland voters reading it would not understand that the criteria being removed include the guarantees of the Declaration of Rights.”
Does Question 3 draw a new congressional map?
No. Question 3 does not draw a map. Chapter 881 amends the Maryland Constitution only. Federal rules apply either way.
Who supports and who opposes Question 3?
Governor Moore has said he will campaign for Question 3. Fight Back Maryland paid for a poll and supports Question 3. Protect Maryland Votes paid for a poll and opposes it. This site has not confirmed any other group’s role from its sources, so it does not name one.
Next
The next page on this question.
What Chapter 881 says about the November ballot, and what it does not say about a start date.
Keep reading
- The whole storyQuestion 3 taken apart, in plain words, and why we’re against it.
- The textThe ballot wording, the sentence it replaced, the state’s summary and the amendment.
- All three questionsQuestions 1, 2 and 3 as printed, with what each vote does, and the dates to vote.
- PollsThree public polls, with their numbers, dates and wording.
- The mapHouse Bill 488’s map, county by county, and all eight districts.
- The lawWhat the 2026 law asks for, and the dates and votes that put Question 3 on the ballot.
- ResultsStatewide and by county, as the State Board of Elections posts them.
- TimingWhat Chapter 881 says about the November ballot, and what it does not say about a start date.
- This weekWhen to vote, and one line each on Questions 1, 2 and 3.
- AboutWho made this, how it is paid for, and how to read the labeled opinion.
Sources
Question 3: text, summary and courts
- State Board of Elections, 2026 specimen ballot (Kent County)
- General Assembly, Chapter 881 (House Bill 2100), full amendment text
- Department of Legislative Services, 2026 ballot question summaries
- Supreme Court of Maryland, order, Sept. 3, 2026
- Order and dissent, Sept. 3, 2026 (State Court Report)
- Anne Arundel County Circuit Court opinion, Aug. 26, 2026
- State Court Report case tracker, Question 3 cases
The plain-language law
Maps and county results
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 cartographic boundary files (counties, 119th Congress districts)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 cartographic boundary files (116th Congress districts, the 2012 plan)
- Maryland Department of Planning, 2022 congressional districts (SB 1012)
- Maryland Department of Planning, 2011 congressional districts (SB 1)
- State Board of Elections, 2012 Question 5 results by county
- General Assembly, House Bill 488 (2026)
- General Assembly, SB 1012 congressional plan, county components
- The Banner, House approves congressional map, Feb. 2, 2026
- Fox Baltimore, Question 3 headed to voters
- Maryland Matters, commission recommends map concept, Jan. 21, 2026
- Rep. Andy Harris, official biography
- Office of the Clerk, U.S. House, Maryland members
- Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1 (1964), equal population for congressional districts
- Voting Rights Act, Section 2 (52 U.S.C. § 10301)
- State Board of Elections, 2024 general election data files (county results, PG24_NNCountyResults.csv)
- Szeliga v. Lamone, memorandum opinion and order, March 25, 2022 (scan)
- Szeliga v. Lamone, supplemental findings, April 1, 2022 (scan)
Every fact on this page is sourced on the whole story’s sources list as well. Quoted wording is in the serif; this site’s own words are in the sans.