ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today testified before the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee in support of House Bill 488, which establishes a new congressional map as recommended by the bipartisan Governor's Redistricting Advisory Commission. The governor urged the Maryland General Assembly to debate, improve, and take a vote on the map—which encourages competition and ensures that more Marylanders can elect the candidate of their choosing.
Governor Moore’s testimony on House Bill 488 as delivered:
Thank you to Chair Healey.
Thank you, Vice Chair Holmes.
Thanks to all the members of the Rules and Executive [Nominations] Committee.
I'm very proud to be here with Delegate C.T. Wilson in support of House Bill 488.
And I am very proud to be here.
Because from day one, I have been very clear that if there was a national conversation happening right now about fair maps across this country, then Maryland would be a part of that conversation.
That Donald Trump and JD Vance have asked states to re-examine their maps.
Yet they've asked states to do it in an unthoughtful way.
And to do it in a way where it was not about hearing the voices of the people, but it was actually about suppressing the voices of the people.
But in Maryland, we decided not to do that.
Because in Maryland, we will hear the will of the people.
That's why, on November 4, I announced the reconstitution of the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Commission.
And for the past two months, any Marylander—from any region, from any background, from any political perspective—could testify and make their voices heard.
The Commission's recommendation was shaped by public submissions.
It was shaped by public hearings.
It was shaped by public feedback.
And that is how our democracy is supposed to work.
To create more competition and accountability—and not less.
To elect candidates of Marylanders’ choosings.
To be more accurate and have an accurate reflection of how Marylanders live.
And to ensure that their voices and concerns are fairly and fully represented in Congress.
It is imperative that Maryland do its part to ensure that Congress is able to function as a meaningful check on executive overreach.
And now is the time for the General Assembly to do what Marylanders expect.
Debate the map.
Improve it, if necessary.
And then take the vote.
Because make no mistake, what the President of the United States is doing right now is political redlining.
And it's not lost to me that I'm the only Black governor in this country and only the third elected Black governor in the history of this nation.
And Donald Trump and JD Vance and their allies in the states that he suggested, are doing everything in their power to silence the voices and trying to eliminate Black leadership—elected leadership—all over this country.
So no, I will not sit quietly.
And the audacity of those who are telling me to do so shows that they have no understanding of the journey of so many who came before us.
We are watching a federal administration that is breaking the law to inflict harm on Americans.
We are watching violations of basic tenets of the First and the Second Amendments while we’re being gaslit by federal leadership.
We are watching an administration disenfranchise Americans under the guise of making America great again—and they are now trying to make this pain permanent.
So I know that history is not going to remember the Trump-Vance Administration kindly.
But to all those who kowtow…
For all those who are trying to move the goalposts…
For all those who are looking for all the reasons why we should not respond, instead of using your energy to find ways to respond…
History will remember you worse.
And I urge the passing of this bill.
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