State lawmakers could vote next week to scrap New York’s new congressional map, a move that would have “significant implications” for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
On Friday, Assembly Democrats gathered for nearly two hours in a Zoom meeting called by Speaker Carl Heastie to discuss whether to approve or repeal tweaked maps created by the state’s redistricting commission. .
“All bases have been covered. Our actions will have a major impact,” Rep. Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx) told the Post.
“Karl was open and fair-minded. He has an open mind about what we should do,” Benedetto added of Heastie.
If they choose to reject the proposed map, Democrats in the state Legislature could redraw the map to eliminate some key battleground states and help tip the scales in their party’s favor. This makes it easier to retake the House of Representatives in the November elections.
No final decisions were made at Friday’s meeting, and officials gave the Post different accounts of which direction the meeting was leaning.
“Everyone more or less agreed with this map. I agree with this map,” said Rep. Vivian Cook (D-Queens).
“I’m hesitant to vote for IRC maps,” countered Rep. Harvey Epstein (D-Manhattan).
Other Democrats are also throwing cold water on the plan.
House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) publicly encouraged Albany lawmakers to reject the map and draw their own.
Orange County State Sen. James Skoufis objected to the map before the zoning commission formally resolved to submit it to the Legislature for consideration.
A Heastie spokesperson said the speaker is still talking to members about the map.
Prominent Republicans, including 2022 gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin and state Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox; called For Congress to approve changes to maps currently under consideration.
The drama surrounding what could be one of the most important votes in Albany this year has largely been played out behind closed doors, especially over the last week while lawmakers were in recess.
Lawmakers are scheduled to return to the Capitol on Monday, a day before petitions begin for candidates seeking a vote.
That means a prolonged approval of a set of maps could disrupt the state’s election calendar.
Republicans are almost certain to challenge the virtually redrawn maps in court, and Congressional primaries may be postponed. The 2022 primary has been postponed until August as the court considers Republicans’ first legal challenge to the map.
Congress needs a two-thirds majority in both chambers to pass a redistricting bill.
Democrats currently hold exactly two-thirds of the seats in the state Senate and 102 of 150 seats in the state House, and few would leave without Republican support.
