{"id":108053,"date":"2026-01-22T02:22:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T02:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/108053\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T02:22:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T02:22:15","slug":"judge-sides-with-democrats-in-redistricting-fight-over-nycs-only-gop-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/108053\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge sides with Democrats in redistricting fight over NYC’s only GOP seat"},"content":{"rendered":"

A judge on Wednesday ordered New York<\/a> to redraw the boundaries of the only congressional district in New York City<\/a> held by a Republican, ruling that the current map unconstitutionally dilutes the voting power of Black and Hispanic residents.<\/p>\n

Republicans<\/a> signaled they would appeal the decision, which injects New York into a widening national fight over redistricting as both parties seek an edge in the battle for control of the U.S. House.<\/p>\n

State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ruled that the district represented by Republican Nicole Malliotakis, which spans parts of southern Brooklyn<\/a> and Staten Island<\/a>, violates protections against racial vote dilution. The lawsuit was brought by an election law firm aligned with Democrats<\/a>, arguing that the district lines failed to reflect demographic changes, particularly growth among Black and Latino voters on Staten Island.<\/p>\n

New York City is currently represented in the U.S. House by 11 congressional districts, with 10 held by Democrats and one held by a Republican, Malliotakis.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pearlman said the challengers presented strong evidence of racially polarized voting and a history of discrimination that continues to affect political participation and representation. He also cited evidence that racial appeals remain a factor in contemporary political campaigns.<\/p>\n

The judge ordered New York\u2019s Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the district by February 6, giving the panel just over two weeks to act.<\/p>\n

The commission, created by voters to curb partisan gerrymandering, holds primary responsibility for drafting congressional maps and is required to do so without favoring either political party. In past redistricting cycles, however, the panel has failed to reach consensus, allowing the Democrat-controlled Legislature to step in and adjust district lines.<\/p>\n

Republicans criticized the lawsuit as a partisan maneuver aimed at eliminating one of the few remaining GOP-held districts in the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a frivolous attempt by Washington Democrats to steal this congressional seat from the people,\u201d Malliotakis said in a statement. \u201cWe are very confident that we will prevail at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

New York Enters National Redistricting Battle<\/p>\n

The ruling comes as redistricting fights intensify nationwide.<\/a> Roughly a third of states have explored redrawing congressional maps since President Donald Trump<\/a> urged Republicans to revisit district boundaries to help protect their narrow House majority<\/a> in this year\u2019s midterm elections. Democrats have responded with legal challenges and redistricting efforts of their own, though in some states they face restrictions imposed by anti-gerrymandering laws they previously championed.<\/p>\n

In New York, Democrats have long sought ways to regain ground after Republicans flipped several competitive districts in recent elections. Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has pledged to engage in the national redistricting battle but has limited options to dramatically reshape the state\u2019s map before the election.<\/p>\n

The current congressional map was drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature and signed into law by Hochul. It was designed to strengthen Democrats\u2019 position in several battleground districts ahead of the 2024 elections. While Democrats gained some seats under that map, Republicans ultimately secured control of the House.<\/p>\n

As of the current congressional delegation, New York has 26 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with 19 held by Democrats and seven by Republicans.<\/p>\n

What Happens Next<\/p>\n

Pearlman\u2019s ruling opens the door to further changes that could again reshape New York\u2019s congressional delegation\u2014and potentially influence the balance of power in Washington.<\/p>\n

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.<\/p>\n

Updates: 1\/21\/26, 7:24 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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