A Manhattan Supreme Court Judge ordered that the lines of New York City’s only GOP-held congressional district should be redrawn — handing blue state Democrats a win in their redistricting push.
Judge Jeffrey Pearlman — who previously worked as an attorney for Gov. Kathy Hochul — ruled that the boundaries of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ district in Staten Island and Brooklyn were “unconstitutional” because it cut out minority voters — in a decision likely to be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.
“This was a partisan ruling made by a partisan judge in a case brought by a notoriously partisan attorney,” New York Republican Committee Chairman Ed Cox wrote in a statement blasting the ruling.
Overturning the maps outside of the usual 10-year cycle that follows the census is necessary, Pearlman ruled, citing a provision of the New York state constitution ostensibly to ensure voting rights for minority groups.
“Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats did not alter this district when they had a chance in 2024. This entire exercise is a cynical attempt to enact an illegal partisan gerrymander under the guise of a voting rights case,” Cox wrote.
The case was filed last year as Texas and other GOP-led states redrew their congressional maps in an effort supported by President Trump.
Pearlman refused to recuse himself from the case as GOP respondents had requested.
“This decision affirms what the New York Constitution requires: district lines cannot be drawn in a way that locks communities out of political power,” Chris Alexander, the executive director of the NAACP New York State Conference said in a statement.
The move could also shake up a contentious primary for the neighboring 10th Congressional District between Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and ex-City Comptroller Brad Lander.
Goldman reaffirmed in a statement after the ruling that he would be willing to run in a newly drawn NY-11 if he was asked.
“Our top priority must be to retake the majority and make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House, and I will always place that goal first,” Goldman said.
The judge ordered new maps for New York by Feb. 6.
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