What you should know
- Congressional elections in New York will be closely contested this year because races in the state, particularly in the New York City suburbs, could have a major impact on which party controls Congress.
- The plan falls far short of the aggressive gerrymandering many expected when Democrats took control of the state’s unusual redistricting process in the middle of the decade. The party is trying to prevent the courts from throwing out its new map, as the previous one was in 2022.
- Republican Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said he was not aware of a lawsuit from Republicans in his chamber and said he understands the party’s congressional delegation is “generally happy” with the maps. “They could be worse,” he added.
NEW YORK — New York Democrats are proposing a new congressional map that could tilt some battleground districts in the party’s favor, potentially giving their candidates an advantage in House races that could determine control of Congress.
The bill, introduced Monday night, will now move through the Democratic-dominated state Legislature, where it is expected to pass in a vote this week. The legislation was unveiled hours after Democrats rejected a map drawn by the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission.
The plan falls far short of the aggressive gerrymandering many expected when Democrats took control of the state’s unusual redistricting process in the middle of the decade. The party is trying to prevent the courts from throwing out its new map, as the previous one was in 2022.
The lines are similar to the state’s existing congressional map, as well as the bipartisan redistricting commission’s proposal, with only a small handful of adjustments that could help Democrats in suburban areas important to the party’s strategy for gain control of the House.
The map would boost Democrats’ chances of holding onto a district on Long Island that Democrat Tom Suozzi won this month in a special election. And it would make New York’s Central District, currently controlled by Republican Rep. Brandon Williams, more favorable to Democrats with the addition of a pair of left-leaning cities.
In the Hudson Valley, Democrats are pushing to roll back changes proposed by the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission that would have helped incumbent Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro, rather than draw lines that make the district more competitive.
Congressional elections in New York will be closely contested this year because races in the state, particularly in the New York City suburbs, could have a major impact on which party controls Congress.
Democrats criticized the bipartisan commission’s map, saying it divided what they called communities of interest, among other issues. Many hoped Democrats would reject the proposal so they could draw up maps that would give their congressional candidates a greater advantage.
“We thought there were areas that could be improved, and that’s what we did,” Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Tuesday.
Republicans have been threatening a legal challenge throughout the redistricting process, but on Tuesday they did not explain their plans as a party. Still, Democrats, anticipating a lawsuit, have begun promoting a separate bill that would limit where a redistricting lawsuit can be filed, an attempt to prevent cases from going before conservative judges.
Republican Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said he was not aware of a lawsuit from Republicans in his chamber and said he understands the party’s congressional delegation is “generally happy” with the maps. “They could be worse,” he added.
A vote on Democrats’ proposed map could take place Thursday or potentially sooner if Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul allows lawmakers to speed up the process. Heastie told reporters that she is holding talks with the governor’s office.
2024-02-29 02:57:20
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