Maryland Senate president faces primary after snubbing Democratic redistricting effort

Maryland state Senate president Bill Ferguson is facing a primary challenge in the wake of his decision last year not to pursue a new Democratic gerrymander in the state, in a rebuke to national Democrats and the governor.

BALTIMORE — Front stoops in Baltimore’s historic south and southeast neighborhoods are usually decorated for spring with seasonal flowers, string lights and banners supporting the Baltimore Orioles.

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But in the last few months, residents have added new accessories to their front porches: lawn signs supporting the state Senate campaigns of Bill Ferguson, Maryland’s current Senate president, or opponent Bobby LaPin, the first Democratic primary challenger Ferguson has faced in 12 years.

“For prior elections I never even had my own campaign signs, I never had just ‘Ferguson’ campaign signs,” Ferguson told NBC News in an interview at his campaign headquarters in Locust Point, adding that he normally makes and distributes signs that don his name alongside those of the state delegates representing his district.