As Republicans in states such as Texas seek to redraw congressional districts to their advantage before 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she’s seriously considering reopening the state’s redistricting process, despite potential legal challenges.
Governor Says She’s Reviewing Her Choices
“We do a redistricting every 10 years, but there are other states that are violating the rules,” Hochul stated recently during a press event in Buffalo. “All I’ll say is I’m gonna look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.”
Her remarks arrive amidst an intense nationwide struggle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where the GOP maintains a slim 219-212 edge with four open seats.
In Texas, Republicans have already begun reworking their electoral boundaries, aiming to cement their position. Hochul believes New York Democrats must act decisively.
Legal Barriers Remain Significant
Although the governor is weighing her options, redistricting specialists caution that New York law only permits redrawing congressional maps every ten years unless the state constitution is revised. That change would require two successive voter-approved ballot initiatives, which seems unlikely before 2026.
“When there’s political will, sometimes you can find a way to do something. It’s just way harder than it is in Texas,” noted Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia.
New York continues to recover from its recent redistricting dispute, when the courts struck down a Democratic-drawn map in 2022 for excessive partisanship. A final replacement map was just finished earlier this year.
Democrats Assess Political Trade-Offs, GOP Threatens Lawsuits
According to Democratic advisors, Hochul’s suggestion is designed to match Republican tactics. “You can no longer bring a knife to a gunfight with these congressional Republicans,” political consultant Trip Yang told State of Politics. He recommends adjustments to favor Democrats, provided legal challenges are kept at bay.
Meanwhile, Republicans are gearing up for litigation. “I think you could expect a full legal battle, not just from Republicans, but good government groups,” said Peter Giunta, chair of the NYS Young Republicans.
Giunta also raised doubts about Democrats’ messaging. “Voters are voting Republican, and are a lot more open-minded to voting Republican, because of how woke some of the policies from the left have become,” he said.
With Hochul facing reelection, her decisions may have far-reaching national impacts.
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