Democrats in Albany led by Gov. Kathy Hochul, House Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins have begun the process of passing legislation introduced this week that would allow Congressional redistricting in New York without having to wait for the 2030 Census to be completed. The legislation also would eliminate some language in the State Constitution restricting gerrymandering. This would be in reaction to redistricting that has been going on in some Republican-controlled states, which has been approved by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The action unfolding in Albany, however, would not affect the upcoming Congressional elections in November but could be in place in time for new Congressional Districts to be put into effect for the 2028 election. Since it involves a state constitutional amendment the process requires passage of the legislation by two consecutive sessions of the legislature before the issue can be put on the ballot for a vote by the public.
John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), on June 2 said, “In stark contrast to the power grabs unfolding in red states against the will of their citizens, New York legislators are using a responsible approach by taking the first and necessary step to ultimately allow New York voters the ability to respond to Republicans’ egregious efforts to steal voting power from voters across the South. With even more red states aiming to further gerrymander their maps again heading into 2028, Democratic leaders should follow New York’s lead where they can and act with urgency to level the playing field.”
Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, who has been endorsed for reelection by President Trump, traveled to Albany on June 1 to appear with Republican members of the State Legislature in opposition to the redistricting legislation proposed by the Democrats.
“I joined Albany Republicans today to call out the latest attempt by New York Democrats to rig the system through partisan gerrymandering,” Lawler said. “I’ve been consistent on this issue: I opposed partisan gerrymandering in Florida and Texas, and I oppose it in New York. Voters should choose their representatives — not politicians choosing their voters. New Yorkers approved an independent redistricting process, yet Albany Democrats continue looking for ways to manipulate congressional maps for political gain.”
Gov. Hochul has said, “It makes us more vulnerable when Donald Trump and the Republicans conspire to gerrymander districts in other states to run up the score to maintain control of the House. And they’re doing this because they know they lost the confidence of the American people, so they’re basically trying to cheat. This started over a year ago, or almost a year ago, in Texas, and it’s opened up the floodgates to other states deciding that they don’t have to follow the rules and, therefore, they think they can get a strategic and political advantage, which is to the disadvantage of places like New York.”
Hochul explained that the process for redistricting in New York is more cumbersome than other states by design.
