Democrats are eyeing opportunities to redraw a number of congressional maps changed during the 2022 redistricting process that party leaders say helped contribute to Republicans winning a narrow House majority.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Democrats earlier this month when it struck down the updated congressional map in Alabama, arguing the redrawn lines were the result of illegal racial gerrymandering. The decision came as a welcome surprise to Democrats, who are now seeking to use the precedent in other states to push for new boundaries, namely in states that helped the GOP win control of the lower chamber.
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Democrats are already employing such a strategy in New York, where Republicans flipped several key districts in 2022 due to the newly redrawn map approved by the conservative majority on the state Supreme Court last year. However, with the resignation of the court’s chief judge, Janet DiFiore, Democrats are pushing for a redo.
DiFiore was replaced by a liberal judge last week, setting the stage for Democrats to litigate the current map that helped the GOP snag 11 of the state’s 26 seats. That challenge is currently making its way through the state court, which could result in a new redistricting process by the end of the summer.
Democrats have argued the current congressional map violates the state constitution, which mandates district lines be drawn by the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission. If state legislators reject the panel’s first two proposals, then lawmakers are permitted to draw their own.
However, the commission declined to draw a second iteration of its map after the first version was rejected last year, handing state Democrats a chance to create their own. That map was rejected by DiFiore as an illegal gerrymander as it would’ve handed Democrats a chance to win at least 22 of the state’s House seats.
DiFiore then appointed a special master to redraw the lines, which are currently being used. However, if the court agrees with the Democrats’ arguments, it could restart the entire process — boosting the party’s chances of regaining crucial House seats in 2024.
Democrats could also expand those efforts to other states, including Wisconsin, where liberal judges are set to seize the majority on the state Supreme Court in August. However, Republicans hold six of the state’s eight House seats, and it’s unlikely Democrats can alter the lines enough to make a significant difference.
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Republicans are already pushing back against those efforts, arguing such a move is a desperate attempt to win back the House.
“Far-left corrupt Democrats are attempting to cheat and steal the 2024 election in New York by illegally gerrymandering congressional lines to benefit Democrats at the expense of hardworking New Yorkers,” House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told the Washington Examiner.
