Maryland Senate president defeats Democratic primary challenger amid redistricting anger

Maryland state Senate President Bill Ferguson won his Democratic primary, The Associated Press projected, defeating his first primary challenger in 12 years despite some backlash over his position on redistricting. Ferguson’s victory comes amid an anti-establishment wave in Democratic politics this year. His challenger, Army veteran and community activist Bobby LaPin, sought to paint Ferguson as an incumbent who had forgotten about the needs of his district since he became the top legislative leader in Maryland. But Ferguson, who represents the state’s 46th Senate District, campaigned on his record, touting the improvements he helped fund for south Baltimore schools and the first-in-the-nation digital ad tax he sponsored in Maryland. In an interview with NBC News earlier this month, Ferguson called the primary challenge, “a blessing in disguise” and an opportunity “to think through about how best to communicate with voters about the things that I’ve been able to deliver over the years.” LaPin, who launched his campaign late last year, made waves in the south and southeast Baltimore district with near-daily videos he posted about the race to his Instagram account. The small business owner previously promoted his sailing business and his local community activism on the social media account, and he surpassed 100,000 followers during the campaign. LaPin also sought to capitalize on anger from some in his party against Ferguson, who last year defied a push from national Democrats and Gov. Wes Moore to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts. Moore and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries favored pushing a new map that would give Democrats total control of the state’s eight House districts, rather than the current 7-1 advantage Maryland Democrats enjoy in the congressional delegation. In May, Ferguson opened the door to partisan redistricting after the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision, which outlawed the consideration of race in drawing congressional districts nationally. Several southern states swiftly redrew their maps to eliminate majority-Black districts. Ferguson called the move, “beyond troubling” and “even more frustrating and devastating than what I imagined could be possible.” Ferguson has also committed to potentially calling a special session of the state Legislature later this summer that would explore a constitutional amendment for redistricting. That amendment could allow Maryland lawmakers to redraw their congressional maps before the 2028 election.