Lone state senator protests Ferguson’s decision over redistricting bill

Listen to this article

Taking a bold stand in opposition to the leader of his chamber, Sen. Arthur Ellis declared Thursday that he will be protesting Senate procedure until the bill to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts is brought to the floor for a vote.

“I must say, I will try my best to get some people angry today by saying that I will not come back to this podium — I will not come back to this podium and give quorum to this body until we bring the midcycle redistricting bill to this floor and we be part of the revolution to send Washington a message that what they’re doing to our citizens is unacceptable,” Ellis, D-Charles, said at the close of his Black History month speech. “It is unacceptable for we to sit back and try and act like we cannot do anything about it.”

Arthur then exited the chamber ahead of the adjournment quorum call. Not one senator joined him in his walk out. No one seconded his comments and they were not journalized.

Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-Baltimore City, was not immediately available to comment on Ellis’ remarks.

Ellis’ diatribe came three days after the House chamber passed legislation to redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm election. 

Shortly after the House passed the bill, Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, appeared on MSNOW with House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, with a message to the Senate: “just do as the House has done.”

“Debate the maps, discuss the maps, and then take the vote,” Moore said.

In a text message to The Daily Record, Moore spokesman Ammar Moussa said that Ellis “is underscoring what more and more Marylanders are feeling every day: this is an urgent moment, and we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines — especially as we see real consequences coming out of Washington that hit Maryland families and communities.”

Even after Ellis’ impassioned speech, the Senate chamber is unlikely to move the map forward. 

Ferguson has been unreceptive to the idea of midcycle redistricting as far back as October, when he sent his Democratic Caucus a letter saying that the “timeline for action is dangerous” and “the certainty of our existing map would be undermined.”

Ferguson said Tuesday that the redistricting bill is in the Senate Rules committee, where “it’ll sit.”

“We don’t have a habit in the Senate of moving forward things that don’t have an opportunity,” he said.

Addressing the press after his walkout, Ellis said that it’s “unacceptable” for the bill to be “locked up” in the committee. He said he will be protesting by not registering his name during chamber roll calls as to not give the chamber a quorum.

In the Senate, a quorum consists of 24 senators — regardless of party. No one has signaled that they will be joining Ellis, who said he will still attend floor sessions.

“This is a personal decision I made, uncoordinated with anyone,” he said.

Ellis said there are “other tools” in his protest “toolkit” that he plans to employ, but would not expand upon what they entail.

Ellis alleged that he has been “intimidated” in caucus meetings for his desire to conduct a straw poll to gauge support for the bill, and was scolded in the Senate president’s office Tuesday for bringing it up.

Though he would not give a headcount, Ellis said that, after a conversation with Moore, he learned he’s not alone among Senate Democrats who supported doing the straw poll.

“When I spoke up in caucus, crickets,” said Ellis. “I think the level of intimidation is high and, unfortunately, I don’t work under intimidation.”

Ellis openly admitted he’s being swayed — by “the Speaker of the House and Governor Wes Moore and … California Governor Gavin Newsom.” He also mentioned U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

“Yes, I am following their charge,” Ellis said.

This story has been updated to correct a quote from Senate President Bill Ferguson.