The New York Supreme Court has issued a ruling to redraw the congressional district boundaries in the state, paving the way for Democrats to map out a new electoral layout that is likely to enable them to regain seats that shifted to Republicans in 2022.
Key Facts
Democrats in New York are likely to attempt to flip between two and six seats currently held by Republicans in the redistricting process.
The state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, voted four to three in favor of redistricting and having it approved by the state legislature, confirming that what was established in 2022 was a temporary fix, according to The New York Times.
The state’s boundaries were redrawn in 2022 by a neutral group after Republicans challenged a map created by Democrats that was found to unfairly manipulate boundaries against Republicans, with Republicans gaining four seats in the subsequent elections under that map, according to The New York Times.
The Court of Appeals ordered that the redistricting committee submit a plan for the new map of the “Congressional Districts and legislation to implement it” by no later than February 28, 2024, and the Democratic-controlled state legislature will have the final say on the map, including the ability to modify the submitted plan.
What to Watch
Republicans, who strongly opposed the court’s order for the committee to redraw the map, have stated that they will challenge any new map if they feel it unfairly gerrymanders against them and in favor of Democrats, meaning the issue could return to the courts once the map is submitted in February.
Background
Redistricting occurs every decade and is supposed to be based on changing census results, which determine how many representatives each state gets and the parts that are divided in the states. Following the redistricting from the 2020 Census, New York was among several states embroiled in a legal battle over congressional districting and gerrymandering. Some Republican-led states, including Georgia and Alabama, have been ordered to redraw their districts due to gerrymandering. Legal challenges regarding congressional districting have also been raised in other states like Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, according to the Associated Press. The way congressional districts are drawn is crucial in the upcoming 2024 general elections as Democrats strive to reclaim the majority in the House, while Republicans seek to maintain their slim and growing majority.
Interesting Fact
George Santos, the former Republican congressman from New York who was expelled from Congress after being caught in lies and following an ethics report confirming he “brazenly” stole from his campaign, reacted to the court ruling on Twitter by offering tips and advice to his fellow six Republican colleagues in New York who will soon be “out of work” on how to succeed outside Congress. Santos has found success selling short videos for people through the app Cameo, where he charges up to $300 for a video, adding that he hopes the app is friendly and welcoming to them.
Sidebar Note
On Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a map of the county commissioners in Galveston County, Texas, can remain in place, despite a lower court finding that it violates voting rights law and discriminates against Black voters.
Further Reading
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