Judge Orders New York To Redraw GOP Held NYC Congressional District

A New York judge ordered state officials Wednesday to redraw the boundaries of New York City’s only Republican-held congressional district, ruling that the current map unconstitutionally diluted the voting power of Black and Hispanic residents.

The decision immediately prompted Republicans to prepare an appeal and intensified an already escalating national redistricting battle, with control of the U.S. House hanging in the balance, CNN reported.

The ruling comes as both parties increasingly weaponize map-drawing ahead of this year’s midterm elections, where Republicans are defending a narrow House majority. Roughly one-third of states have considered revisiting congressional boundaries since President Donald J. Trump urged Republicans to pursue new district lines to protect their advantage in the House.

Democrats have responded with redistricting pushes of their own, though in some states those efforts have been limited by anti-gerrymandering laws enacted by Democratic legislatures in prior years.

In New York, State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ruled that the district represented by Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis must be reconfigured. The district, which spans Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, is the only congressional seat in New York City currently held by a Republican.

The lawsuit challenging the district was brought by an election law firm aligned with the Democratic Party. Plaintiffs argued the district lines failed to reflect demographic changes in Staten Island, particularly growth in Black and Latino populations, and claimed the configuration diluted minority voting power in violation of constitutional protections.

Pearlman sided with the plaintiffs, writing that there was substantial evidence of racially polarized voting and a history of discrimination that continues to affect political participation. The judge also cited evidence that racial appeals remain a factor in modern political campaigns.

Republicans condemned the ruling as a nakedly partisan maneuver designed to erase one of the last GOP footholds in deep-blue New York under the banner of civil rights enforcement.

Malliotakis blasted the lawsuit in a statement, saying, “This is a frivolous attempt by Washington Democrats to steal this congressional seat from the people and we are very confident that we will prevail at the end of the day.”

Republican leaders confirmed plans to appeal the decision.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has previously said she intends to play an active role in the national redistricting fight, though her options are constrained by existing law and court rulings. New York’s current congressional map was drawn by Democrats in the state Legislature and signed by Hochul in 2024 after earlier maps were struck down.

That map was crafted to improve Democratic prospects across several competitive districts. Democrats gained seats under the new lines, though Republicans ultimately retained control of the House.

Pearlman’s ruling also faulted the district’s structure for grouping Staten Island with parts of Brooklyn, arguing the borough shares more in common with Manhattan’s Financial District than with nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods connected by the Verrazzano Bridge.

Republicans disputed that conclusion, noting stark differences in demographics, culture, and political priorities among the areas cited by the court.

The decision has drawn national scrutiny as Republicans debate whether to aggressively counter Democratic redistricting efforts in other states. Vice President J.D. Vance has openly criticized GOP leaders who decline to respond in kind.

After redistricting moves in Virginia reduced Republican-leaning seats, Vance took aim at Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray on X.

“I’d like to thank Rodric Bray for not even trying to fight back against this extraordinary Democrat abuse of power,” Vance wrote.

“We told you it would happen, and you did nothing,” he added.