Bipartisan redistricting commission approves new congressional map for New York with modest changes

ALBANY, NY- A bipartisan redistricting commission has approved a new congressional map for New York, with modest to three competitive districts.

With that said, there are no other substantial alterations for the rest of the state’s lines. This development is according to the latest from the Associated Press.

The new map was approved Thursday and the proposal now awaits its fate in the Democratically controlled legislature, where lawmakers can accept the plan, or reject it and design district lines of their own.

Reports suggest it is not yet clear as to when lawmakers may gather to vote on the commission’s proposed map.

It’s reported one of the most notable adjustments to the map falls within the district occupied by Republican Congressman Brandon Williams. If approved, the new lines would shift enough to include democratic leaning cities of Auburn and Cortland, NY, sources say.

The other two districts faced with significant alterations are focused in the Hudson Valley region.

In 2022, the state was supposed to have an organized redistricting commission construct these maps for the election that time around, but failed in doing so, thus handing the baton over to the legislature.

As a result, Democrats drew up maps of their own, but their efforts to gain an edge were swamped with a lawsuit and a legal challenge.

An outside expert, appointed by the State Supreme Court, was ultimately recruited to execute a new series of maps, which subsequently resulted in the Republicans flipping seats in New York City suburbs and gaining a narrow edge in the U.S. House.

On the other hand, Democrats sued in response to have those maps scrapped.

The dispute eventually ended back up in the state’s highest court, which in December ruled a new map be drawn, stating the commission should be granted another chance to craft the district lines.

Albany Capitol Plaza image.