U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi voiced his disapproval of Democrats who are advocating for an expedited redistricting process in New York, aiming to secure more seats for their party in the 2028 elections.
“I stand against all forms of gerrymandering. I’ve always opposed it,” Suozzi expressed during a CNN interview when asked about a proposal from a New York Democratic lawmaker, which has the backing of Governor Kathy Hochul. This proposal aims to introduce a constitutional amendment that would alter congressional districts before the 2028 elections.
Brooklyn’s Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who leads the House Democratic minority and is seen as a potential future speaker if Democrats regain control, encouraged the New York State Legislature to revise its congressional map by 2030.
Party officials indicated that the remarks made by Suozzi did not sit well with many Democrats in New York and Washington, D.C.
“Suozzi seems to be the only Democrat in New York without the backing of both Hakeem Jeffries and Kathy Hochul,” mentioned an anonymous official from the Empire State Democratic Party.
According to this official, Democrats view this initiative as crucial to maintain the integrity of the democratic process and to protect democracy itself.
The move comes as a reaction to prior efforts by President Trump and the Republican Party to redraw House maps in favor of Republican dominance, particularly as they prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.
Democrats are equally engaged in this ongoing struggle, trying to adjust the House map to their advantage, which has turned into a fierce contest.
Jeffries referred to the redistricting conflict as a “maximum war,” asserting that Democrats would not make unilateral concessions to Trump and the Republicans.
Gerrymandering is essentially the practice of redrawing electoral districts to favor one party, often resulting in oddly shaped districts that either “pack” opposition voters into a few areas or disperse them to dilute their voting strength.
Suozzi, however, maintains that both parties are missing the mark.
“Whether conservative, liberal, or moderate, we should all agree that this practice is wrong,” he remarked, pointing out that it’s detrimental for everyone.
Suozzi argued for independent redistricting and emphasized that independent voters should have a say in the process. He also advocated for open primaries to allow non-party members to participate.
“We’re likely to see retaliation,” Suozzi warned, referencing actions from Trump and Republican-led Texas that could exacerbate the redistricting conflict. He believes this situation is harmful to the country.
However, some Democratic officials noted that Suozzi had previously sought to increase the number of Democratic voters in his competitive district during the last redistricting phase.
In a follow-up interview, Suozzi clarified and slightly adjusted his earlier comments from CNN.
“Suozzi has consistently opposed partisan gerrymandering because it breeds division and harms representative democracy,” said Kim Devlin, one of his campaign’s senior advisors.
“At the same time, he acknowledges that Republicans have skewed the electoral process by manipulating district maps in their favor. He believes that while Democrats are justified in countering this approach, the long-term objective should be to eliminate all forms of partisan gerrymandering,” she added.
A recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which struck down Louisiana’s majority-black districts, has further fueled the debate around House redistricting.
This groundbreaking decision established a precedent, declaring that Louisiana engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering to form new electoral districts.
Democrats argued that this ruling undermines the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to eliminate voting discrimination.
