The New York Court of Appeals ruled 4-3 for the state’s congressional districts to be redrawn ahead of the 2024 election in a win for Empire State Democrats.
The Tuesday ruling by the highest court in the state determined that the map created by a court-ordered master in 2022 was not meant to last for the entire 10-year redistricting cycle. The court-ordered map was created after the Independent Redistricting Commission failed to agree to a map and the Democratic-led legislature drew a map favorable for Democrats, which was struck down by a court.
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“In 2014, the voters of New York amended our Constitution to provide that legislative districts be drawn by an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC),” Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote in the majority opinion. “The Constitution demands that process, not districts drawn by courts. Nevertheless, the IRC failed to discharge its constitutional duty. That dereliction is undisputed. The Appellate Division concluded that the IRC can be compelled to reconvene to fulfill that duty; we agree. There is no reason the Constitution should be disregarded.”
The court ordered the IRC to formulate a new map and have it passed by the legislature by Feb. 28, 2024.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and New York Attorney General Letitia James said the ruling “will ensure all New Yorkers are fairly and equitably represented by elected officials” and vowed to “continue our efforts to protect voting rights for all New Yorkers.” The comments came in a joint statement shortly after the ruling was issued.
The current map is more competitive than the one previously passed by the legislature and allowed Republicans to net four seats in 2022 en route to winning a majority in the House of Representatives. Democrats took a victory lap at the opportunity to potentially draw more favorable congressional maps.
“Today’s decision is a win for democracy and particularly the people of New York,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) said in a statement. “We are eager for the Independent Redistricting Commission to get back to work to create a new, fair congressional map—through the process New York voters intended.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) applauded the decision and said the redistricting commission can “begin the process of drawing fair maps” for the 2024 election.
“The New York State Court of Appeals has affirmed that the current Congressional district lines drawn by an unelected, out-of-town special master undercut the will of New York voters in the 2022 midterm election,” Jeffries said. “As a result of the court’s enlightened decision, the Independent Redistricting Commission can now begin the process of drawing fair maps that give New Yorkers an opportunity to elect the representation they deserve.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and New York GOP Chairman Ed Cox decried the ruling as “plainly wrong” and accused New York Democrats of politicizing the court.
“The Court’s decision today is plainly wrong on the Constitution and the law,” they said in the joint statement. “In their relentless pursuit of power at all costs, corrupt Democrats in Albany and Washington have politicized the Court of Appeals. Its once esteemed reputation is in tatters.
“The decision today opens the door for Democrats to rig our Congressional district lines so that elections are decided not by the voters, but by politicians in a back room,” the statement continued. “New York Republicans will not give up the fight against gerrymandering and for free and fair elections. The people of New York deserve better than this.”
The decision is expected to cost Republicans seats ahead of the highly contested 2024 House elections that could be decided by a handful of swing seats.
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“We are disappointed but not surprised by the Court’s decision to allow Democrats a second attempt at gerrymandering the maps,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Savannah Viar said in a statement. “Instead of focusing on policies that appeal to everyday voters, Democrats are trying to cheat their way to power. We will continue to hold them and their terrible policies—that have led to an open border, rising crime and rampant inflation—accountable.”
Two House Republicans who may be targeted by the redistricting process, Reps. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), decried the ruling. Molinaro said the ruling drags the redistricting process “for years” and will “create more confusion and frustration for voters,” and D’Esposito accused Democrats of doing everything to “subvert the will of New Yorkers” by trying to “gerrymander fairly drawn congressional lines.”
The Washington Examiner‘s Cami Mondeaux contributed to this report.
