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. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’s vacancy in New York City’s only Republican-held congressional district violated the state constitution and must be redrawn by Feb. 6.

Republicans are expected to appeal a decision by New York State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman, who concluded that the Staten Island-based 11th District diluted the voting power of Latinos and Blacks.

Under the order, New York’s independent redistricting commission must redraw New York’s congressional map by Feb. 6. A lawsuit filed last year alleged the district disenfranchised Black and Latino voters.

Pearlman’s order declaring “districting unconstitutional” cited provisions in the New York state constitution that prohibit the denial or abridgement of minority voting rights.

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

Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both houses of Congress.

Giving Democrats control of the House or Senate in the election would jeopardize President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda and open the door to Democrat-led congressional investigations targeting the Republican leader.

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