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Gov. Larry Hogan to push for redistricting reform bill again

Posted at 8:02 AM, Dec 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-14 08:02:33-05

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says he'll try again to make congressional redistricting a nonpartisan process. 

Hogan, a Republican, said Wednesday he will submit legislation in the next session to create an independent commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Now, the governor and lawmakers craft them. 

Hogan has made the reform proposal in each of his three years as governor, but it has not advanced. 

Democrats who control the Maryland General Assembly passed a redistricting bill this year that would take effect if five other states in the region also agree to the changes. But Hogan vetoed the measure, saying it was "a political ploy" to block real reform. 

Last week, the U.S. Supreme court added a dispute over Maryland's congressional map to its consideration of partisan gerrymandering.