EXCLUSIVE: A new lawsuit set to be filed in Maryland seeks to block a redistricting amendment backed by Democrat Gov. Wes Moore from appearing on the November ballot, arguing state officials advanced the measure after the state’s own legislative analysts concluded the statutory deadline for certifying ballot questions had already passed.

The complaint, filed Thursday night in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court by the conservative watchdog group Oversight Project and reviewed by Fox News Digital, argues HB 2100 could not lawfully reach voters because Maryland’s July 1 deadline for certifying statewide ballot questions expired more than a month before lawmakers convened a special session to approve the proposal.

The Oversight Project, which filed the lawsuit with Republican lawmakers, argues approval of the amendment could pave the way for an 8-0 Democratic congressional delegation. 

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HB 2100 would ask voters to amend the Maryland Constitution so state constitutional standards governing compactness and boundaries would no longer apply to congressional districts.

The Oversight Project describes itself as working «to expose and root out corruption in government, among elected officials, and in our most influential organizations to ensure power resides with the American People.»

Its filing points to a Department of Legislative Services fiscal note stating that «the new statutory deadline of July 1 for certification of ballot questions» had already passed. The fiscal note also states that election officials were required to publicly post the full text of a proposed constitutional amendment at least 90 days before Election Day.

According to the complaint, lawmakers then added the phrase «notwithstanding any other provision of law» to HB 2100 less than an hour before the joint committee hearing began. The plaintiffs argue the language was intended to override Maryland’s certification, notice and public comment requirements after those deadlines had already elapsed.

The complaint further alleges Democratic sponsors characterized the amendment as merely «technical» in the House, while Senate debate reflected that lawmakers understood the statutory timeline could no longer be met.

The filing cites remarks by Democratic state Sen. Cheryl Kagan during floor debate.

VIRGINIA DEMS ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY ‘STEAMROLLING’ STATE LAW THAT COULD UPEND REDISTRICTING CRUSADE

A new lawsuit in Maryland seeks to block a redistricting amendment backed by Democrat Gov. Wes Moore. (Brian Witte/AP Photo, File)

«There is no time to comply with the plain language of the law with our new law because July 1st is in the rearview mirror,» Kagan said, according to the complaint. «There’s no time to have the Secretary of State draft language, to have it published, to have a comment period, to have it modified. It’s just not an option.»

Maryland GOP Delegate Matt Morgan, one of the plaintiffs, told Fox News Digital the disputed language was introduced at 11:08 a.m. for a noon committee hearing.

«They have the law. They’re supposed to follow it. They didn’t,» Morgan said. «And now we’re going to take it to court and see what the judges have to say about it.»

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The complaint argues that HB 2100 could not lawfully reach voters because Maryland’s July 1 deadline for certifying statewide ballot questions expired more than a month before lawmakers convened a special session to approve the proposal. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File)

Morgan said Democratic leadership later described the amendment as «technical» on the House floor.

«The truth is that that was their way of trying to get around them missing all these statutory deadlines,» he said.

Republican Delegate Kathy Szeliga, another plaintiff, said legislators had only hours to review the revised language while the public had no opportunity to comment.

«The public got absolutely no time to look and weigh in on the amended language,» Szeliga told Fox News Digital. «So, it just reeks of a naked political, partisan power grab on the Democrats’ behalf.»

According to the complaint, the proposal is intended to overturn the practical effect of a 2022 state court ruling holding that those constitutional standards applied to congressional redistricting. Democrats hold seven of Maryland’s eight U.S. House seats.

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Democratic leadership described the amendment as «technical» on the state House floor. (Jonathan Newton/For The Washington Post via Getty Images, File)

Moore has publicly defended the amendment as a response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states, saying it would ensure «Marylanders — and no one else — have the final say over their representation.»

The lawsuit asks the court to bar state officials from certifying, printing, distributing, tabulating or canvassing votes on the amendment and requests expedited review because of the approaching election calendar.

Moore’s office, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the Maryland State Board of Elections did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

El precio del petróleo subió este viernes en medio de nuevas preocupaciones por la apertura del estrecho de Ormuz, luego de que Irán, en coordinación con Omán, propusiera prohibir el paso de buques considerados hostiles y aplicar fuertes multas a quienes violen las reglas propuestas. El régimen persa mantiene un cierre de facto de la vía marítima estratégica desde el 28 de febrero de 2026.

Los futuros del crudo Brent, de referencia europea, ascendieron 80 centavos, o 0,97%, hasta 83,29 dólares el barril, mientras que el West Texas Intermediate (WTI) de Estados Unidos subió 64 centavos, o 0,83%, hasta 77,93 dólares.

El jueves, los futuros del petróleo cerraron con un alza superior a los 3 dólares por barril después de que Irán analizara un proyecto de ley para prohibir el paso de buques estadounidenses e israelíes por el estrecho de Ormuz, canal donde transitaba cerca de una quinta parte del petróleo y gas natural licuado mundial antes del inicio de la guerra en Medio Oriente a fines de febrero.

Los precios habían caído a principios de semana ante la posibilidad de una solución al conflicto, pero el Brent superó los 80 dólares el jueves tras haber caído por debajo de ese umbral por primera vez desde el 13 de julio. Ambos referenciales se encaminan a cerrar la semana con una caída cercana al 8%.

Las tensiones entre Irán y Estados Unidos mantienen la atención del mercado energético tras la presentación de un borrador de plan iraní que propone restringir el tránsito por el estrecho de Ormuz.

Analistas coinciden en que las hostilidades entre ambos países persisten. Lin Ye, vicepresidente de mercados de materias primas y petróleo en Rystad Energy, explicó que la reciente reacción de los precios del petróleo está vinculada a la difusión del plan iraní. “El detonante inmediato es más específico, está reaccionando al plan publicado por Irán para las condiciones de tránsito en Ormuz, que prohibiría buques estadounidenses e israelíes y exigiría a otros países ‘hostiles’ pagar compensaciones antes del paso”, declaró Ye en diálogo con Reuters. El ejecutivo remarcó: “Eso no es el mercado descontando un mal acuerdo, es la confirmación de que lo que surja será un corredor gestionado o condicional, no una restauración del flujo normal”.

Un legislador iraní informó que una comisión parlamentaria evalúa un proyecto preliminar que prohíbe el tránsito de barcos estadounidenses, israelíes y de otras naciones consideradas hostiles por el Parlamento de Irán. Este proyecto prevé multas de hasta el 20% del valor de la carga para quienes violen estas restricciones, informó la agencia Fars.

Según un alto funcionario iraní, Irán aspira a cobrar tarifas de entre el 5% y el 7% del precio de las cargas a los buques que utilicen el estrecho. Por su parte, Omán discute fijar tarifas cercanas al 3%, mientras que Washington rechaza cualquier tipo de cobro. Cuatro fuentes del sector consultadas por Reuters advirtieron que el acuerdo propuesto enfrenta dificultades de implementación debido a las sanciones de Estados Unidos y a las cláusulas restrictivas de seguros sobre cualquier pago.

Vandana Hari, fundadora de la consultora Vanda Insights, afirmó que “las señales de esta semana sobre un posible acuerdo de tránsito Irán-Omán han causado oscilaciones en la percepción del mercado, pero hasta ahora dejan sin claridad qué condiciones se necesitan para concretar el entendimiento”.

En paralelo, los hutíes de Yemen informaron sobre ataques con misiles y drones contra “despliegues sauditas” en las regiones de Marib y Hadramout, según reportó Reuters. El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, declaró el jueves ante periodistas que considera que “la guerra terminará pronto”.

(Con información Reuters)

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., cruised to victory in a GOP primary on Thursday evening in a race to replace outgoing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.

With the nomination in tow, Blackburn is likely to become the next governor in the Volunteer State — a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to its top executive role since 2006. 

Lee, who has served in the role since 2019, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. He last won reelection in a 64.9% to 32.9% victory over Democratic challenger Jason Martin, a businessman and doctor.

DEMS RALLY AROUND BEST HOPE TO DEFEND GOVERNOR’S MANSION FROM GOP TAKEOVER

Notably, Lee did not endorse anyone in the three-way Republican race for the 2026 nomination but noted that he had a close relationship with Blackburn when she announced her candidacy.

«I’ve been friends with Marsha for a long time, and she served as my congressman and representative in the General Assembly. I’m proud we have really good people running for governor in this state,» Lee told local outlets.

Blackburn, for her own part, promised to continue focusing on issues that Republicans have made centerpieces to the GOP platform in Washington, D.C.

She highlighted immigration as one such issue.

«As governor, I’ll deport illegals, stop the flow of drugs and drug money. We will crack down on Cartels, restrict cash transfers to drug havens and hit criminals and illegals where it hurts — in their wallets,» Blackburn said in a campaign video.

Blackburn also promised to prevent China from buying up Tennessee land, punctuating her commitment with a viral ad where she crushed a fortune cookie.

«It doesn’t take a fortune cookie to figure it out. Here in Tennessee we’re going to stop communist China and protect Tennessee land,» she remarked.

President Donald Trump also did not issue an endorsement in the race, saying that he had ties to one of Blackburn’s challengers: Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn.

TRUMP MAY HAVE ENDORSED DARLINE GRAHAM, BUT GOP SENATE HOPEFULS AREN’T BACKING DOWN

Sen. Marsha Blackburn walks out of the Senate Chambers during a vote at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on October 27. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Rose, an 8th-generation farmer and the millionaire founder of Transcender Corp., an IT certification company, has served in the Tennessee legislature since 2019. In his gubernatorial campaign, he pitched himself as a homegrown candidate focused on local solutions to local problems.

«I know that anything is achievable in Tennessee because I have lived it. Now, I’m asking for you to give me the chance to bring opportunity to all Tennesseans,» Rose said in a campaign video.

On his website, Rose highlighted five key areas of focus, including education, infrastructure, healthcare, energy and economic and community development.

A third candidate, State Rep. Monty Fritts, had run on a more aggressive, small-government platform.

«My number one priority is leaving more money in your pockets, in your purses and in your country bankrolls rather than sending it to Nashville,» Fritts said in a campaign video.

On his website, Fritts touted positions like shrinking the size of Tennessee’s budget, protecting citizen rights against encroaching government power and increasing parent input in education.

Fritts attracted controversy earlier this year when, as part of his campaign, he called for a ban on mosques and other «pagan religions.»

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State Capitol Building Nashville Tennessee USA. (Photo by: Andrew Woodley/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Andrew Woodley/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

«Islam is a little different story than perhaps other religions are, in that it’s not necessarily a religion; it’s a political movement,» Fritts said. «It’s that movement that, if you don’t submit, perhaps you are executed. I feel that Islam is incongruent with both our U.S. and Tennessee Constitution,» Fritts told local outlets.

Having cleared the primary, Blackburn will run in the state’s general election on Nov. 3 against her Democratic opponent, Memphis City Councilwoman and Chief Public Defender Jerri Green.