Democrats in New York propose tilting US House map in their favor
Democrats who control the New York state legislature on Tuesday unveiled a new congressional map that is expected to give their party a moderate boost in their effort to flip the US House after November’s elections.
New York Democrats Unveil Congressional Map Expected to Boost Party's Prospects in US House
New York state Democrats, who hold the majority in the legislature, revealed a new congressional map on Tuesday. The map is anticipated to moderately enhance the party's efforts to gain control of the US House following the November elections. Experts suggest that the map enhances Democrats' chances of winning seats in up to two districts, while avoiding an aggressive partisan gerrymander that could have significantly bolstered the party's prospects for a House takeover.
The state is a focal point in the battle for control of the House, where Republicans currently have a narrow majority. Republican gains in New York in 2022 contributed to the GOP seizing control of the lower chamber in that year's midterm elections.
Redistricting expert Jeffrey Wice, an adjunct professor at New York Law School, remarked, "The map makes modest changes at the margins. It’s by no means the type of plan that Republicans feared."
The district lines, which lawmakers aim to swiftly approve, were released after Democrats in the legislature rejected a map created by an independent redistricting commission, opting to draw their own. Lawmakers retained the commission's lines for a central New York seat held by freshman Republican Brandon Williams, which included more territory favorable to Democrats, likely resulting in a Democratic pickup in the fall. Additionally, Democrats in the state legislature made a Hudson Valley seat currently held by Republican Marc Molinaro more competitive than the commission's compromise map.
Lawmakers also bolstered Democrat Tom Suozzi’s 3rd Congressional District on Long Island, which Democrats recently won in a special election to succeed expelled former Rep. George Santos. Aides to Williams and Molinaro did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
New York state Democrats, who hold the majority in the legislature, revealed a new congressional map on Tuesday. The map is anticipated to moderately enhance the party's efforts to gain control of the US House following the November elections. Experts suggest that the map enhances Democrats' chances of winning seats in up to two districts, while avoiding an aggressive partisan gerrymander that could have significantly bolstered the party's prospects for a House takeover.
The state is a focal point in the battle for control of the House, where Republicans currently have a narrow majority. Republican gains in New York in 2022 contributed to the GOP seizing control of the lower chamber in that year's midterm elections.
Redistricting expert Jeffrey Wice, an adjunct professor at New York Law School, remarked, "The map makes modest changes at the margins. It’s by no means the type of plan that Republicans feared."
The district lines, which lawmakers aim to swiftly approve, were released after Democrats in the legislature rejected a map created by an independent redistricting commission, opting to draw their own. Lawmakers retained the commission's lines for a central New York seat held by freshman Republican Brandon Williams, which included more territory favorable to Democrats, likely resulting in a Democratic pickup in the fall. Additionally, Democrats in the state legislature made a Hudson Valley seat currently held by Republican Marc Molinaro more competitive than the commission's compromise map.
Lawmakers also bolstered Democrat Tom Suozzi’s 3rd Congressional District on Long Island, which Democrats recently won in a special election to succeed expelled former Rep. George Santos. Aides to Williams and Molinaro did not immediately respond to requests for comment.