New York’s new, long-awaited congressional map may end up looking a lot like the current map — unless Democratic state lawmakers decide to push their luck.
The state Independent Redistricting Commission reached a consensus Thursday on a plan to make only modest changes to New York’s 26 congressional districts, largely leaving New York City and Long Island districts alone while giving Democrats a boost in a key swing district in the Syracuse area.
The redistricting panel’s Democrat- and Republican-aligned members voted 9-1 on the proposal in a rare moment of bipartisanship in Albany that contrasted sharply with the panel’s deadlock two years ago. But whether the map is put in place now depends entirely on the Democrat-dominated state Legislature.
If Democratic lawmakers reject the proposal and decide to make their own changes to the map, Republicans say they’re prepared to sue — which could upend New York’s political calendar and throw its long redistricting saga back to the courts for the third time in two years.
The changes could have significant national implications: Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, and both parties are fighting for any advantage they can get.
New York’s House delegation currently comprises 16 Democrats and 10 Republicans.
So far, legislative leaders in Albany aren’t giving any hints on how they’ll proceed with the proposed map.
“We will review the map and discuss it with our members to determine next steps,” said Mike Whyland, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat.
“We plan to discuss and decide our subsequent actions soon,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat from Yonkers.
The commission’s only major proposed change comes in Central New York, where Republican Rep. Brandon Williams’ district would shift west to pick up the village of Auburn, a Democratic stronghold. Williams is a first-term representative and a major target for…
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