Judge Rules New York City’s Republican Congressional District Unconstitutional

A New York state judge has determined that the makeup of the city’s only Republican-led congressional district is unconstitutional, ordering a redraw by next month.

Justice Jeffrey Perlman of the State Supreme Court found that New York’s 11th Congressional District, which includes all of Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, unfairly dilutes the voting power of Black and Hispanic residents. The Independent Zoning Commission is required to complete the new map by February 6.

Currently, the district is represented by Republican Nicole Malliotakis, who secured her seat in the 2020 elections. In response to the ruling, she described it as “a frivolous attempt by Washington Democrats to steal this seat from the people,” expressing confidence that they will ultimately succeed in their defense.

This district has leaned Republican in recent elections, casting votes for Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and again in 2024, while backing Republican Senate candidates in 2022 and 2024 after having previously supported Democrats.

The lawsuit, brought forth by Democratic attorney Marc Elias’s firm, argued that current precinct boundaries undermine the electoral clout of the growing Black and Latino demographics on Staten Island, thereby breaching protections outlined in New York’s Voting Rights Act.

“We’re glad the court recognized the detrimental impact of the existing district lines on Black and Latino voters, who have seen their power diluted despite significant population growth,” said Aria Branch from the Elias Law Group.

In the judge’s ruling, there was significant evidence of a “racially polarized voting bloc,” coupled with a history of discrimination influencing current political representation. The judge highlighted that racial appeals linger in political campaigns today.

As Republicans prepare to challenge the ruling, the ongoing redistricting process for the 2026 midterm elections intensifies, marking a critical battleground across the country.

Ed Cox, chair of the New York State Republican Party, criticized the ruling as biased and claimed the Democratic leadership has an opportunity to alter the district in the upcoming election.

“This whole situation appears to be a manipulated effort to implement partisan gerrymandering under the guise of a voting rights lawsuit,” Cox stated, pointing out the lack of defense from the Governor and Attorney General concerning the law passed by the legislature in 2024.

Following the 2020 census, New York faced its own conflicts regarding congressional district redraws, leading to a legal struggle over maps for the 2022 midterms. Initially drawn Democratic maps were deemed unconstitutional gerrymanders, resulting in court-ordered independent redraws that reshaped several districts. These maps were utilized in 2022 but had to be altered again for the 2024 elections.

Governor Kathy Hochul welcomed the decision, stating the state constitution ensures fair representation for all.

“The court’s ruling highlights these crucial constitutional principles and directs that the Congressional maps be redrawn by the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission to properly represent affected communities,” Hochul said.

Staten Island Republican Party Chairman Michael Tanousis labeled the decision “a complete sham,” asserting that the changes are intended to fragment the community due to its voting patterns. He claimed, “It’s fraudulent, clearly partisan, and fundamentally wrong.”