"We get it that Democrats want to win the most seats and that Republicans also want to win the most seats. But we want the public to decide who wins, not the person drawing the maps. And New York is fortunate that our current map, drawn by nonpartisan political scientist Jonathan Cervas of Carnegie Mellon University is, as we've said before, cribbing from the Snow White's Evil Queen, "the fairest in the land.""
"Following the state Constitution as amended in 2014, the 26 congressional districts give no advantage to party nor to incumbents, so they swing back and forth as the voters decide. With Republicans in control of the White House, the Senate and the House, it should be a good Democratic year. There is no need for Dems to cheat and deprive voters of their own choice."
"Since New York's Constitution forbids both partisan gerrymandering and mid-decade redistricting, the only option for Dems to game the midterm map here was to have a judge intervene."
The Supreme Court intervened to stop a Democratic effort to redraw New York's sole Republican congressional district covering Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, represented by Nicole Malliotakis. Justice Sam Alito explained the Court's decision despite objections from three colleagues about waiting for state court proceedings. The current congressional map, drawn by nonpartisan political scientist Jonathan Cervas, follows New York's 2014 constitutional amendments prohibiting partisan gerrymandering and mid-decade redistricting. The 26 districts provide no advantage to either party or incumbents, allowing voters to decide outcomes. Democrats' legal challenge was initiated late, creating time pressure. While both parties seek electoral advantages, the current map ensures voters determine representation rather than mapmakers.
#congressional-redistricting #partisan-gerrymandering #supreme-court-decision #electoral-maps #new-york-politics
Read at New York Daily News
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