Redistricting Testimony

 

From Governor Moore’s Redistricting Advisory Commission Hearings: 

The following are copies of testimony given by Crystal Peters, Action Vice President and Barbara Hays, President in hearings held by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission. Note the link at the bottom of the page (view) to see Map #37 which was approved by the commission for consideration. House Bill 488 has been introduced, with no further meetings currently scheduled.

  • Commisssion Meeting, November 18, 2025

My name is Crystal Peters and I am from Baltimore County. I am currently serving as Action Vice President and PAC Administrator for Maryland National Organization for Women. Today, I am speaking for myself.

I support redistricting for the following reasons:
1. The principle. Maryland is a national leader on many issues and showing up to defend democracy is what we do. We cannot let democracy fail due to bureaucratic loopholes that are being purposely exploited and stand by – paralyzed – by rules and norms.
2. Steve Bannon told The Economist that the goal of the redistricting efforts is to “get the House in a situation that is permanently defendable by the MAGA movement. So it’s a blocking mechanism.” He then said the purpose is to “seize the institutions.” Those are direct quotes. We cannot let that happen.
Knowing that this is the publicly stated goal for redistricting, the Maryland legislature has a fiduciary duty to protect the state by combating this nefarious effort and the only tool in the toolbox is to counter it with opposing redistricting efforts. We have a one-time shot.
Any legislator who conflates today’s Texas court ruling with “what could happen to us” is being disingenuous about that ruling because it was based on racial gerrymanding that violates the Voting Rights Act. Partisan gerrymandering is legal, per a Supreme Court ruling in 2019.
Thank you.
Crystal Peters

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  • Commission Meeting, January 15, 2026

Good afternoon Chair and members of the committee,

My name is Crystal Peters. I’m a mother, an active Marylander, and I serve as Vice President of Action for Maryland National Organization for Women, though today I’m speaking for myself in strong support of HB488 and immediate legislative action on new congressional maps.

This is bigger than a map. This is about whether.democracy still works the way it’s supposed to.Right now, states across the country are redrawing congressional
maps to lock in power and shield politicians from voters. That is not hypothetical — it is already shifting the balance of Congress.If Maryland does nothing, we are not being careful. We are stepping back while others move forward to entrench minority rule.

I know there are concerns about timing and process. But leadership is about acting in difficult moments, not waiting for easier ones. Delay does not protect democracy — it weakens the states still trying to defend fair representation. This map matters because of fairness. It reflects months of public input and a thoughtful effort to better align districts with real communities and population changes. When you look at the history of Maryland’s district lines, it’s clear maps have evolved many times. This proposal is a more balanced approach than what we’ve had before.Voters expect action. Passing maps for 2026, 2028, and 2030 together provides stability and protects Maryland’s voice in Washington at a time when federal decisions directly affect our families and communities.

This is not about partisanship. It is a civic and patriotic responsibility.

I urge a favorable report on HB488.

Thank you.

Crystal Peters

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I am the president of a state-wide women’s rights organization. A major focus of our work is to communicate with and lobby our elected representatives both in Annapolis and on Capitol Hill.

Influencing our congressional representatives is actually the responsibility of everyone but the current map certainly doesn’t make that easy. Governor Moore’s map, on the other hand, makes identifying our state’s districts’ boundaries and what zip codes are within those districts fair for everyone attempting to do what we do.

There is no reason why D-3 should be divided into three separate sections, one in Anne Arundel County and 2 north of Baltimore. Why D-1 is over 1000 square miles larger than all other Maryland congressional districts, and yet still has over 1,000 more constituents than all other Maryland congressional districts?  No voter designed these current districts.

Governor Moore’s map looks much more like the reality voters expect when they think about their representation in Congress. Town Halls can actually draw voters from all over a Member’s District and not just a neighborhood, where different messages can be delivered depending on where they live.

Governor Moore’s map makes it far easier for groups like mine to identify constituents of a Member of Congress and let them know how laws governing them will affect them. And wouldn’t the voters expect that the entire legislature in Annapolis would be allowed to vote on this issue and not just the Maryland House?  If it’s about the voters, then it’s about Governor Moore’s map.

Barbara Hays

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Here is a link to the full report of Governor Moore’s Advisory Commission.