Congressional Redistricting Ordered By New York's Top Court

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The state's top court issued a ruling on Tuesday for redistricting of the congressional map in a major effort toward the Democrats winning back the House. It is expected as many six Republican-led seats could turn blue, The New York Times reported.

By a 4-3 vote, the Court of Appeals ordered the state to begin the mapmaking process that would eventually send the control of the state's 26 congressional districts to the Democratic-led state legislature, the Times said.

The state's redistricting commission must draw up the new map by Feb. 28.

"Today's redistricting decision will ensure all New Yorkers are fairly and equitably represented by elected officials. As the Court of Appeals reaffirmed today, district lines should be drawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission. We will continue our efforts to protect voting rights for all New Yorkers," said a joint statement from Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James.

However, state Republicans are taking a different approach to the decision.

"Albany Democrats will do everything in their power to subvert the will of New Yorkers who rejected their failing progressive agenda, and this push to gerrymander fairly drawn congressional lines is just the most recent iteration of the Democrats’ disregard for Long Island voters," Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-Island Park) said in a statement.

D'Esposito's 4th District is listed as one of the most vulnerable in the country, according to Roll Call. The website ranks the 3rd District, formerly held by Republican George Santos, as a toss-up for flipping the seat back to the Democrats.

Former congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Suffolk) said the Court of Appeals: "disgraced itself in a way that will be taught in future law school classes about how, in some cases, merit, the constitution, laws, facts, and the will of the people just don’t matter."

This marks the 3rd version of restricting the congressional map in New York this decade, NBC News reported.