State redistricting expert warns governor’s redistricting panel of lawsuit ‘the state will lose’

BY: BRYAN P. SEARS

Karl Aro, former executive director of the Department of Legislative Services, testifies to the three members of the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee who showed up for Tuesday's virtual meeting. Clockwise from top right, they are Senate Preisdent Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), Aro, Del. C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) and Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss. (Screenshot)

“A former executive director of the Department of Legislative Services warned a redistricting commission that if the state attempts to redraw boundaries of its eight congressional districts before 2030, it will end up in court.

“I won’t say I’m an expert, but I’ve been through a lot,”said Karl Aro, the former executive director of the Maryland Department of Legislative Services, who has been directly involved in “five rounds of redistricting.”

“I’ve seen a lot, and I have to say that I think that doing this midterm redistricting is a major mistake, very high risk for a lot of reasons,” said Aro, one of more than 40 people who testified during a virtual meeting Tuesday of the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission.”

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https://marylandmatters.org/2025/11/18/state-redistricting-expert-warns-governors-redistricting-panel-of-lawsuit-the-state-will-lose/