Redraw NY's Congressional Map Yet Again, Judges Rule

NEW YORK CITY — Go back to New York's drawing board — again.

So said judges in New York's highest court Tuesday to mapmakers in a highly anticipated decision Tuesday that could shift the balance of political power in Congress.

Court of Appeals judges Tuesday ruled 4 to 3 in favor of a Democratic-backed lawsuit that would require the state's congressional districts to be once again be redrawn.

New Yorkers can be forgiven a touch of déjà vu — a redistricting fight in 2022 started with gerrymandered maps to be tossed out and replaced with new ones. Judges in Tuesday's opinion found last year's court-created maps were essentially temporary and shouldn't be used in future elections because New York voters in 2014 voted legislative districts must be drawn by an Independent Redistricting Commission.

"There is no good argument as to why New Yorkers must be prohibited from ordering the creation of legislative districts through the process the Constitution requires, adopted by the direct vote of the People," the opinion states.

The judges ordered the redistricting commission to submit redrawn congressional district to state lawmakers by Feb. 28, 2024.

What this means for New York City voters is that they'll likely see their congressional districts redrawn by the June 2024 primary, and perhaps in a form more favorable to Democrats.

State legislators can give the redistricting commission's submitted map the green light, or shoot it down and redraw the map themselves. Democrats control the state Legislature.

Last year's elections under the now-temporary maps were widely seen as a disaster for Democratic congressional candidates in New York. Republicans, including recently ousted Rep. George Santos, flipped four congressional seats — an outcome that may have cost Democrats the U.S. House.