Is New York City About to Lose Its Only Republican in Congress?

"A judge ruled Thursday that the boundaries of the city's lone Republican-represented congressional district are unconstitutional, setting the stage for yet another potential redistricting stand-off in state courts that could endanger the party's hold on the seat and Representative Nicole Malliotakis 's reelection. In his decision, State Supreme Court justice Jeffrey Pearlman ruled in favor of a legal challenge to the11th Congressional District, concluding that the districtas drawn dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino residents in Staten Island by not accounting for population growth in both communities."

"Pearlman ordered the state's independent redistricting commission to reconvene in order to draw new lines for the district by February 6. The ruling is expected to be appealed. While it is currently unclear how the panel would tackle any potential redrawing of the district, any change to the congressional lines likely poses a threat to the Republican Party's slim representation in the city."

"The 11th Congressional District, which contains the entirety of the consistently conservative Staten Island and southern Brooklyn, is currently represented by Malliotakis, the city's lone Republican representative in Congress. Proposed variations of the district show the area picking up portions of lower Manhattan from the neighboring Tenth District, a move that would make the district far more friendly to Democrats and make Malliotakis's chances for reelection in the fall much more difficult."

A state judge ruled that the 11th Congressional District is unconstitutional because lines dilute Black and Latino voting power by not reflecting population growth. The judge ordered the independent redistricting commission to reconvene and draw new lines by February 6. The ruling is expected to be appealed and could prompt additional state and federal litigation. The district covers Staten Island and southern Brooklyn and is the city's lone Republican-held seat. Proposed redrawing could add lower Manhattan precincts, shifting the district toward Democrats and complicating incumbent Nicole Malliotakis's reelection prospects.

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