Breaking news. A New York judge ruled Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ (R-N.Y.) district is unconstitutional and ordered the redistricting commission to redraw the map by Feb. 6.
This is a big win for Democrats who sued to try to reopen the redistricting process in the Empire State. But the real test will be whether this ruling holds up on appeal, which Republicans are sure to attempt.
Democrats asked the court to combine the Brooklyn portions of the districts of Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman and Malliotakis and then loop Lower Manhattan and Staten Island into another. That would leave Malliotakis in a blue seat.
Justice Jeffrey Pearlman granted Democrats’ request on an expedited basis.
Maryland. Next up for Democrats hoping to redraw Maryland’s congressional map: convincing state Senate President Bill Ferguson to do a 180.
Ferguson said Tuesday that he was unmoved by the state’s redistricting commission’s recommendation that the state redraw its congressional lines for 2026.
The commission voted Tuesday on a proposed map to pass along to the legislature. That map would give Democrats all eight of the state’s congressional districts. Currently, the delegation is split seven Democrats to one Republican.
Ferguson, the state Senate’s top Democrat, is on the commission and voted against redistricting.
Ferguson has repeatedly said he does not believe it is constitutional and that it could not withstand scrutiny in the courts. A new map could backfire if it gets struck down and replaced with a map that is less favorable, per Ferguson.
Here’s what Ferguson said after the vote:
The map. The redistricting advisory commission released a proposed concept map yesterday. Here are the major changes.
– Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin’s Montgomery County-based district now stretches up to the Pennsylvania border.
– The southern portion of the Eastern Shore crosses the Bay Bridge to connect with Annapolis. Democratic Rep. Sarah Elfreth would probably run here. The northern portion of the Eastern Shore links up with Baltimore and Carroll counties, leaving Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) with nowhere to run.
– The city of Baltimore is now split among three districts instead of two.
Next steps. Democrats will have to convince Ferguson to hold a vote in the Maryland Senate. The state House speaker is supportive, so Ferguson is the holdup here.
Many Democrats believe if Ferguson puts the map on the floor, it will pass. Others insist that Ferguson knows his caucus and if he keeps it from coming up for a vote, it’s because he knows it would fail.
“I trust very much and I certainly hope that Governor Moore and Senate President Ferguson and our great new House speaker will be able to sit together and figure out a viable political path forward,” Raskin said.
