New York Democrats have a new plan for altering the state constitution in 2027 to catch up to Republican-led states that have raced to redraw U.S. House districts to gain seats this November.
The proposal to be put to voters for approval would remove rules that have tied New York lawmakers’ hands in remaking the political map for partisan advantage as other states have done. It would do so by removing a gerrymandering ban embedded in the constitution more than a decade ago and by allowing lines to be redrawn whenever lawmakers see fit, not strictly after each census.
The bill to make that amendment was introduced at night on Monday, June 1, in the closing days of this year’s legislative session, which is scheduled to end on June 4. Lawmakers must pass it both this year and next year for it to be put on the ballot for voters in November 2027.
If approved by voters, the state Legislature could then redraw House districts for the 2028 elections. The state constitution doesn’t currently allow mid-decade redistricting.
What to know about NY redistricting plan
The new proposal goes further than an initial amendment bill created last year after President Donald Trump set off a national redistricting war by goading Texas lawmakers into redrawing the state’s House map to gain Republican seats.
The earlier New York bill, still pending in the Senate and Assembly, would simply allow the state to redraw districts in mid-decade if other states do so. That proposal in its current form would still hamper Democrats’ ability to match GOP states because it would leave intact the constitution’s ban on drawing lines to favor one party and its requirement to draw compact districts.
Both of those restrictions would be lifted under the latest bill.
New York’s 26 House seats are currently split between 19 Democrats and 7 Republicans.
One of those Republicans — Rep. Mike Lawler — held a press conference with GOP state lawmakers in Albany on Monday, June 1, to denounce any attempts to change the New York’s redistricting system. Speakers vowed a fierce campaign to defeat such a measure and predicted voters would reject it, just as they did in 2021 when Democrats tried to alter the state’s 2014 redistricting reforms.
A slew of states, led by both Republicans and Democrats, have followed Texas in drawing new House maps with partisan motives for the upcoming midterm elections. Both parties are battling to win control of the House for the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
This is a developing story and will be updated
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Dems reveal new path to redrawing House seats to match GOP states
Reporting by Chris McKenna, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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