A New York state judge ruled that New York City’s only Republican-held congressional district was drawn unconstitutionally, ordering a new map, according to NBC News.
Judge Jeffrey Pearlman concluded that the Staten Island-Brooklyn based 11th District, which is represented by GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, diluted Black and Latino voting power. In Brooklyn, Malliotakis represents parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach.
Pearlman said New York’s independent redistricting commission must redraw the state’s congressional map by Feb. 6. His decision is likely to be appealed, the news agency said.
In the Democratic-led lawsuit, the petitioners argued that a new map should pair Staten Island with part of southern Manhattan, instead of southern Brooklyn, and move the southern Brooklyn area in question into New York's 10th District, which Democrat Dan Goldman represents.
Since the 10th District is heavily Democratic, moving part of it into the 11th District could give the party a chance to flip it in the midterm elections. Democrats control 19 of New York's 26 districts, NBC said.
Goldman, who is running against former city Comptroller Brad Lander in the June primary, said he is focusing on his re-election.
"As I said before, I’m proud to represent my constituents in my current district and am focused on running for re-election to continue to build on the work we are doing together," he said in a statement. "Our top priority must be to retake the majority and make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House, and I will always place that goal first.”
Malliotakis said Democrats filed the lawsuit because they "can’t beat me on merit, policy and debate."
"We will not allow them, or a judge who previously served as chief of staff for Kathy Hochul, to silence the voters of our district," she said on X. "We will use every legal option at our disposal, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, to protect the voices of the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn and we are very confident that we will prevail at the end of the day."
Governor Kathy Hochul said the the New York State Constitution guarantees the principles of fair representation, and New Yorkers in every community deserve these protections.
"The court’s decision underscores the importance of these constitutional principles and directs the congressional map be redrawn by the New York Independent Redistricting Commission so impacted communities are fully represented and have a voice in our democracy," she said in a statement.
The ruling in New York comes amid the broader redistricting battle playing out across the country, including in Virginia and California.
"The Staten Island/Brooklyn Congressional District has existed for almost 45 years," New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox said in a statement. "Kathy Hochul and Democrats insult the intelligence of NY-11 voters when they engage in such partisan gerrymandering."
