The top Democrat in the Maryland Senate has roundly rejected an effort by his party to redistrict the state, arguing that the risks of redrawing maps outweigh the potential gains.

Bill Ferguson explained his reasoning for opposing the plans in a three-page letter sent to all the Democratic lawmakers in the state Senate on Tuesday evening.

“I want to … provide some additional clarity regarding why, after speaking with many of you individually, the Senate is choosing not to move forward with mid-cycle redistricting,” Ferguson wrote. “Despite deeply shared frustrations about the state of our country, mid-cycle redistricting for Maryland presents a reality where the legal risks are too high, the timeline for action is dangerous, the downside risk to Democrats is catastrophic, and the certain

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