Court Orders New York Congressional Map to be Redrawn

The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court ordered the state's congressional maps to be redrawn. Republicans, who will likely lose seats with a new map, are expected to take the case to the Court of Appeals, which is the state's highest court. 

The ruling, if upheld, returns the process to the Independent Redistricting Commission, created out of a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2014. The Commission was unable to reach a consensus in its work after the 2020 Census, handing control to the Legislature. Democrats, with large majorities in both branches, passed a map that heavily favored the party.

Democrats held 19 of 27 seats after the 2020 election. Projections based on the enacted map said it could give Democrats as many as 22 of 26 seats.^{1 1}The state lost a congressional seat based on the 2020 Census.

That map was subsequently thrown out by a State Supreme Court judge. It was replaced by a remedial one developed by a redistricting expert appointed by that same court. 

In a 2022 midterm election where Democrats fared better than expected, New York ended up being a bright spot for the GOP. The party gained several seats, and the Democratic edge was reduced to 15-11.