New York State High Court Judge ruled on January 21 that the current boundary of New York City’s only Congressional District controlled by the Republican Party – the 11th District (CD-11) – violates the state constitution by improperly diluting the voting rights of African American and Latino voters. The state government has been ordered to redraw the district within a deadline, casting a bombshell on this year’s midterm elections.
The district is currently represented by Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, covering the entire Staten Island and a small part of Brooklyn. The ruling came from Manhattan State High Court Judge Jeffrey Pearlman, who stated that the district failed to reflect the recent growth in African American and Latino populations on Staten Island, constituting “unconstitutional dilution of voting rights.”
The judgment indicated that the plaintiffs had presented compelling evidence showing the district’s existence of “highly segregated voting patterns” and that “historical discrimination still affects contemporary political participation and representation,” with explicit or implicit appeals to racial groups still visible in political campaigns.
The lawsuit was brought by a closely affiliated election law team with the Democratic Party, advocating for the district to be redrawn and include the more politically liberal Lower Manhattan to more fairly represent the voting power of minority voters.
However, Pearlman did not personally redraw the district but ordered the Independent Redistricting Commission composed of representatives from both parties in New York to present a new district map by February 6, a tight deadline.
Republicans harshly criticized the ruling, claiming it was a political maneuver by the Democratic Party to “steal districts.” Malliotakis stated in a release, “This is a reckless attempt by Washington Democrats, and we are confident we will ultimately prevail.” Republicans are expected to appeal immediately, with the case likely to be elevated to the New York State Court of Appeals.
John Faso, the strategist for the New York State Republican redistricting plan and former congressman, criticized the judge for “judging and editing at the same time,” and had previously requested Pearlman recuse himself from the case, citing his past as an aide to Democratic Governor Hochul and Senate Majority Leader, but the request was denied by the judge.
On the Democratic side, the ruling was seen as a significant breakthrough. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated, “This is the first step to ensure that the interests from Staten Island to the Lower Manhattan community are not being fragmented.”
Governor Hochul also expressed appreciation for the ruling. She stated that the New York State Constitution guarantees the principle of fair representation, and “every New Yorker in every community should enjoy these protections,” with the court’s decision highlighting these constitutional principles once again.
Currently, New York is represented in the House of Representatives by 19 Democrats and 7 Republicans. This ruling is seen as part of the nationwide reconfiguration of congressional districts battle. Nearly one-third of states across the country are considering adjusting their congressional districts, with both the Republican and Democratic parties attempting to gain an edge in the House control battle.
If the ruling stands, it may disrupt this year’s election schedule in New York. Candidates are expected to begin collecting signatures in late February, and if the appeals process delays, it could force the election commission to change candidacy rules and even postpone the primaries scheduled for June.