As Republicans in states like Texas move to redraw congressional districts in their favor ahead of 2026, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she’s seriously considering restarting her state’s redistricting process despite legal hurdles.
Governor Says She’s Exploring Her Options
“We do a redistricting every 10 years, but there are other states that are violating the rules,” Hochul said recently at a press conference in Buffalo. “All I’ll say is I’m gonna look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.”
The governor’s comments come amid a fierce nationwide battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The GOP currently holds a narrow 219-212 majority, with four vacant seats.
Texas Republicans have already begun reshaping their electoral maps, hoping to secure their advantage. Hochul says New York Democrats can’t afford to sit back.
Legal Limits Could Stall Effort
Despite the governor’s intentions, redistricting experts say there’s little room for maneuver. Under New York law, congressional maps can only be redrawn once every decade, unless the state constitution is amended. That would require two consecutive public votes on a ballot proposal, an unlikely feat before 2026.
“When there’s political will, sometimes you can find a way to do something. It’s just way harder than it is in Texas,” said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia.
New York is still recovering from its last redistricting battle, when courts rejected a Democratic-drawn map in 2022 for being too partisan. A new map was finalized only earlier this year.
Democrats Weigh Risks, Republicans Warn of Lawsuits
Democratic strategists say Hochul’s proposal is about playing political hardball. “You can no longer bring a knife to a gunfight with these congressional Republicans,” Trip Yang, a political consultant, told State of Politics. He suggests tweaking some districts to lean more Democratic, but without triggering legal challenges.
But Republicans are already preparing for a legal fight. “I think you could expect a full legal battle, not just from Republicans, but good government groups,” said Peter Giunta, chair of the NYS Young Republicans.
Giunta also questioned whether Democrats have a messaging problem. “Voters are voting Republican, and are a lot more open-minded to voting Republican, because of how woke some of the policies from the left have become,” he said.
As Hochul heads into a reelection year, her next move could have national consequences.
Leave a Reply