Maryland 6th Congressional District

Maryland – Proof That Both Parties Will Gerrymander When Given the Chance

Election Law Society · January 9, 2019 ·

By: Drew Marvel

While the recent fascination with gerrymandering would suggest it is a recent development in American politics, the practice is far from new. Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing election districts so as to give one political party a majority in as many districts as possible by concentrating the voting strength of the other party into as few districts as possible – and it has been a consistent force in American politics since the early 1800s. Contrary to the popular view of Republicans as the primary, if not sole, proponents and benefactors of gerrymandering, politicians in every state, Republicans and Democrats alike, have utilized this tactic to entrench themselves into power.

A New Efficiency in Maryland: Gill v. Whitford’s Impact on Maryland

Election Law Society · February 12, 2018 ·

By: Zach Allentuck

The recent oral arguments for Gill v. Whitford left court–watchers unsure if the Supreme Court would strike down excessive partisan gerrymandering. Gill v. Whitford’s impact goes far beyond Wisconsin: as previously noted, there is a lawsuit against Maryland’s 6^th Congressional District for excessive partisan gerrymandering. Though the 4^th Circuit declined to throw out the congressional voting map that created the 6^th Congressional District, the case does not end there. The 4^th Circuit wants to wait and see how the Supreme Court rules in Gill v. Whitford before issuing a ruling, and the plaintiffs announced their intent to appeal to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court sides with the plaintiffs in Gill, what would happen to the Maryland case?

Squashing the Praying Mantis: Why Maryland 3rd Should be Redrawn

Election Law Society · January 12, 2018 ·

By: Zach Allentuck

The Washington Post called it the “second-most gerrymandered” district. Its shape is comical and unwieldly. It has been compared to a praying mantis. This is Maryland’s 3^rd Congressional District. Yet, when the topic of gerrymandering in Maryland arises, Maryland’s 6^th Congressional District receives an outsized amount of attention and focus. The focus on the 6^th makes some sense; it is the focus of a federal court case. Certainly, from a lawsuit perspective, focusing on a district where the incumbent lost his seat because of gerrymandering makes more sense than a district where the incumbent kept his seat. However, the 3^rd is still more gerrymandered, because it is a weirder shape and the margin of victory for Democrats in the 3^rd is higher than it is in the 6^th. It is good that both the current governor, Larry Hogan, and the former governor, Martin O’Malley, agree that the gerrymandering in Maryland is bad. However, they should speak out about the 3^rd specifically, because, as stated before, the 3^rd is more gerrymandered, and because it makes more political sense to focus on the 3^rd. The two should draw attention specifically to the 3^rd.

A New Efficiency in Maryland: Gill v. Whitford’s Impact on Maryland

Election Law Society · February 12, 2017 ·

By: Zach Allentuck