By Hank Russell
Republican state legislators were furious after the Democrat-controlled legislature passed a resolution supporting a constitutional amendment that would allow state Democrats to redraw the congressional district lines — just in time for the 2028 elections.
On June 3, the Assembly voted in favor of the resolution, 91-47, while the Senate approved it by a 38-22 margin. The vote was along party lines.
According to Politico, the amendment would allow new lines to be drawn before the 2030 Census and prevent the state from restricting the redrawing of maps benefiting one political party over another. Before this could go into effect, both chambers in Albany must vote on it again before it goes before the voters as a ballot referendum. If it passes, Democrats could pick up as many as four additional seats in Congress, including on Long Island, according to Newsday.
Governor Kathy Hochul told WWNY-TV in Watertown that the state’s redistricting amendment is in response to President Donald Trump “and his allies” attempting “to rig our elections” across the nation. Red states such as Florida, Texas and Louisiana have introduced redistricting legislation that would keep the GOP in power.
“As Republicans across the country redraw maps to shield themselves from accountability, it’s more important than ever that New Yorkers have a voice in the process,” she said.
“What I would say is there are other states that are abusing the redistricting process to gain political advantage, and it would be irresponsible for New York to not be playing on the same field as those other states,” Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), chair of the Judiciary Committee and a member of the Committees on Codes, Ethics and Guidance, Rules and Insurance, told Newsday.
However, Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) blasted the constitutional amendment as a “power grab” by state Democrats.
“The redistricting amendment passed today is a shameless power grab with the sole intention of erasing Republican seats in Congress,” Ra said. “Kathy Hochul and her allies will claim this is in response to activity in other states, but in reality, New York Democrats have never needed their arms twisted to tilt election laws in their favor.”
Ra said the Democrats in Albany have tried four times to “[manipulate] the state’s election system to maximize their partisan advantage,” but he called this attempt “the most brazen,” adding, “What Albany Democrats passed [last night] has nothing to do with fair elections, competitive districts, or the will of the people.”
“Regardless of how Democrats portray their actions today, New Yorkers should see it for what it is: a corrupt effort by New York Democrats to steal control from the electorate and assume more for themselves,” Ra added. “Republicans will fight this every step of the way. When New York voters have the opportunity, they should summarily reject it.”