New York City’s only Republican-held congressional district must be redrawn, judge orders

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) – A New York judge ruled on Wednesday that Republican U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis’ district – New York City’s only Republican-held congressional district – violates the state’s constitution and should be redrawn by February 6.

Republicans are expected to appeal the decision by New York state Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman, who concluded in the order that the Staten Island-based 11th District had diluted Latino and Black voting power.

New York’s independent redistricting commission should redraw New York’s congressional map by February 6, according to the order. A lawsuit filed last year had argued that the district disenfranchised Black and Latino voters.

Pearlman’s order declaring the district configuration unconstitutional cited provisions in New York’s state constitution that bar the denial or abridgement of minority voting rights.

There is a nationwide battle over redistricting between Republicans and Democrats ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, when control of the U.S. Congress will be at stake.

Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both chambers of Congress.

Ceding control of either the House of Representatives or Senate to the Democrats in the elections would endanger President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda and open the door to Democratic-led congressional investigations targeting the Republican leader.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jamie Freed)