Lawsuit seeks to redraw district represented by Malliotakis

U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis with Councilmember David Carr and community leaders in Dyker Heights in June. Photo by Arthur De Gaeta

SOUTHERN BROOKLYN — AN ELECTION LAW FIRM on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to redraw the boundaries of the Brooklyn congressional district represented by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican member of Congress in New York City, according to the Associated Press. The suit argues that the 11th Congressional District’s current configuration, which includes Staten Island and part of southern Brooklyn, unconstitutionally dilutes the power of Black and Latino voters, whose numbers have increased substantially in Staten Island. Malliotakis denounced the litigation, calling it “a frivolous lawsuit trying to upend our congressional district,” according to the New York Times.

The litigation comes amid a national redistricting fight kicked off by President Donald Trump, who has been pressuring Republican-led states to redraw district boundaries to benefit their own election chances. The lawsuit seeks a new “minority influence district” joining Staten Island with voters in lower Manhattan, according to the legal filing. Lower Manhattan is currently in District 10, which also includes western Brooklyn, and is represented by Rep. Dan Goldman.

“NY-10 is my home and I will be running for Congress in my home district,” Goldman said in a statement Monday. “If Staten Island is drawn into my district, then I will be ready to step up and take the fight for democracy and a Democratic House majority to Nicole Malliotakis’ doorstep.“

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