Democrats in charge of New York’s Legislature have put forth a new proposal for congressional district lines following the rejection of boundaries created by a bipartisan redistricting commission. The proposed legislation, introduced after a vote on Monday, retains much of the Independent Redistricting Commission's map but includes alterations to districts in suburban Long Island and the Hudson Valley north of New York City.
This move by Democrats is a significant development in the ongoing battle over New York's 26 congressional seats, as even minor adjustments to the state's map could impact which party gains control of the U.S. House after the upcoming November elections. Republicans have already indicated their intention to challenge the proposed lines legally if approved.
The proposed legislation is expected to be voted on later this week. The state commission's original map would have favored Democrats in two districts and Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro in another, while largely maintaining the current district lines.
According to redistricting expert Jeffrey Wice from New York Law School, the new proposal closely aligns with the commission's map but includes changes to Molinaro's Hudson Valley district that could increase the competitiveness of his race. Additionally, the proposed map would slightly adjust three districts on suburban Long Island, including the seat recently won by Democrat Tom Suozzi in a special election following the expulsion of George Santos from Congress.
Wice also noted that the Legislature's proposed map could benefit Suozzi and Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino. The Independent Redistricting Commission, tasked with drawing the 2022 districts, failed to reach a consensus, leading the Legislature to create its own map aimed at giving Democrats an advantage by consolidating Republicans into a few super districts to weaken GOP voting influence across the state.
Following legal challenges and court interventions, an outside expert was appointed to devise a new map for 2022 after Republicans performed well under the initial congressional lines, securing a narrow House majority. Democrats subsequently sued to invalidate the 2022 map, leading to a court ruling in December that mandated the creation of a new map, giving the commission another opportunity to craft district lines.
