New York is coming closer to joining the great redistricting wars of 2026 \u2013 but the blue state\u2019s foray is still a long shot, experts said.<\/p>\n
Several states, including California and Texas, have already redrawn their maps in an arms race started by Republicans at President Donald Trump\u2019s urging. New York lawmakers say a recent court order<\/a> adds new fuel to their push to change the state\u2019s redistricting process, but observers said they\u2019re unsure it will result in any changes to the political map before November.<\/p>\n \u201cNew York is a small piece of the national picture. A very small piece,\u201d said David Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst for The Cook Political Report. \u201cBut it is the difference of a seat. I remain skeptical that the map will change, but the chances are now higher than they were.\u201d<\/p>\n State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman last week ruled that the boundaries of U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis\u2019 district unlawfully dilute the political power of Black and Latino voters on Staten Island\u2019s North Shore.<\/p>\n Pearlman ordered<\/a> the state\u2019s Independent Redistricting Commission to produce a new map by Feb. 6. Douglas Breakell, the co-executive director of the commission \u2014 whose members are appointed by Republican and Democratic legislative leaders \u2014 said it \u201cmust comply,\u201d but that the timing would be a \u201cchallenge.\u201d<\/p>\n The New York State Constitution only allows redistricting once every 10 years, after the release of a new U.S. Census. Democrats who control New York\u2019s state government have said they wanted to restart the process to join the national redistricting race, and the case that prompted Pearlman\u2019s order was filed by a prominent Democratic law firm.<\/a><\/p>\n The plaintiffs suggested uniting Staten Island and Lower Manhattan, which would eat into the district represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, said the ruling was \u201cthe first step toward ensuring communities of interest remain intact from Staten Island to Lower Manhattan.\u201d<\/p>\n Malliotakis, a Republican, said she would appeal the decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThe district is perfectly drawn the way it is,\u201d she said. \u201cThese gerrymandering attempts, whether it’s here in New York or whether it’s a state like Texas where Republicans are doing it \u2013 it is wrong and it is taking away the voice of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n