New York lawmakers approved a measure Wednesday to bolster their power over redrawing congressional and legislative maps as Democrats look to tilt districts further in their favor in 2028.
The state Assembly and state Senate debated an omnibus redistricting measure that alters the state constitution to grant lawmakers more control over the map-making process. The bill passed the Assembly 91-47 and the state Senate 38-22 late Wednesday night.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has signaled her support of the measure, posting on X Tuesday the amendment gives New Yorkers “the power to fight back against attempts by Donald Trump and his allies to rig our elections.” The measure must be approved again by lawmakers next year before it heads to voters.
New York Democrats have argued the changes are necessary to pick up more House seats, citing a national redistricting battle that began last summer when Texas Republicans approved new lines backed by President Donald Trump. Democrats currently hold 19 of 26 congressional seats in the US House of Representatives and control all three branches of state government.
“New Yorkers are already being done a disservice by the fact that this Congress is not properly representative of the population of this country,” said state Senate Majority Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris during debate. “That is only going to get worse because of the actions that other states are taking and so I do believe New York needs the flexibility to be responsive to that.”
The new changes would apply to the state constitution and include a weakening of the independent redistricting commission that typically spearheads map redrawing each decade. The amendment also removes an anti-gerrymandering provision and allows for mid-decade redistricting ahead of the official census counts.
The measure further restricts the use of the court system to determine how legal challenges to maps are settled.
Republicans, who hold virtually no power in New York, have blasted the measure. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said Monday Democrats were engaged in political corruption and accused state lawmakers of launching the redistricting fight in 2020, when lawmakers initially attempted to amend the state constitution to lower voting thresholds for redrawn maps.
“The fact is, they will do anything in their power to seize power,” Lawler said during a news conference, accusing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) of spearheading the effort.
Jeffries said in a Tuesday statement the “Empire State will strike back” and called the amendment part of a “forceful, ongoing and multi-state response to Republican efforts to gerrymander the national congressional map and rig House elections.”
State Republicans criticized provisions in the amendment that remove a “compactness” standard that lawmakers and commissioners appointed to the independent redistricting body use to draw districts.
Several GOP lawmakers have said they disapprove of red states that have taken up redistricting measures, but argued that New York shouldn’t wade into the fight in retaliation.
“We’re supposed to uphold the integrity of the people we represent, and let them know that we’re not here for some kind of fight on behalf of somebody else who lives in a different states,” said Sen. George Borrello (R).
Jeffrey Wice, a professor at New York Law School, said the measure foreshadows a multimillion-dollar campaign next year when it lands on ballots.