New Yorkers sue state elections board as battle over House maps intensifies

"A group of New Yorkers has filed a lawsuit against the state's board of elections alleging that its congressional map unconstitutionally dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino residents of Staten Island. The complaint, filed on Monday, is another volley in the battle between Democrats and Republicans to redraw congressional districts in a way that favors their party in advance of the midterm elections."

"But in the wake of Donald Trump's call for Texas and other red states to redraw their maps to help the party pick up more seats in 2026, Democrats have responded by trying to do the same thing in states such as California and Maryland. Democrats in California and New York trying to counter Republican efforts could be hurt by their own efforts to prevent gerrymandering, said Michael Kang, a law professor at Northwestern University and an expert on redistricting."

"In New York, the lawsuit was filed by Elias Law Group, which has also worked with Democrats on court cases concerning redistricting and congressional maps in Texas, Nevada and Wisconsin. The new petition states that the district boundaries do not account for the increase in Staten Island's Black and Latino populations in recent decades and violate the New York Voting Rights Act."

Plaintiffs filed suit against the New York State Board of Elections, alleging the current congressional map unlawfully dilutes Black and Latino voting strength on Staten Island. The challenge targets the 11th congressional district, represented by Republican Nicole Malliotakis, and contests a map approved by the Democratic-controlled state legislature less than two years ago. The filing argues district lines ignore decades of growth in Staten Island's Black and Latino populations and violate the New York Voting Rights Act by confining those communities where they cannot effectively influence elections. The case reflects broader partisan redistricting battles after calls by national Republicans and countermeasures by Democrats.

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