Empire State Today

New York's Redistricting Long Fight is Over

After a three-year battle, the New York State Legislature has finally enacted a new map for the state's congressional districts, as reported by John Faso in an op-ed in the Daily News. The process, which involved extensive legal disputes and court decisions, has now come to a conclusion.

The new map, as described by Faso, does not significantly differ from the one drawn by a court-appointed expert in 2022, despite threats of further legal challenges. Faso highlights that the redistricting process in New York was governed by a constitutional amendment adopted by voters in 2014. This amendment aimed to limit the Legislature's influence on redistricting by establishing the bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to oversee the drafting of legislative and congressional maps. It also included strict measures against partisan gerrymandering, making it one of the most robust state prohibitions in the nation.

However, Faso notes that State Democrats continuously attempted to undermine the 2014 amendment, initially even refusing to allocate funds for the IRC's operations. It was only through a lawsuit filed by the Government Justice Center in 2021 that the IRC was able to commence its work.

The resolution of New York's redistricting saga marks the end of a prolonged and contentious process, ultimately resulting in a new congressional district map for the state.