NY redistricting maps shake up local races
abc7ny.com

...A court-appointed expert released a draft of new congressional maps for New York that are more favorable to Republicans than the original gerrymandered political maps drawn by Democrats, and the shift has caused a shakeup in some local races.

The draft maps released Monday would help the GOP by creating five districts that lean Republican and at least four other districts where Republicans would be competitive.

Maps drawn up by the Democratically controlled state Legislature as part of the redistricting process occurring every 10 years would have given Democrats a strong majority in 22 of 26 congressional districts, starting with this year's election, but those maps were struck down by a court.

Currently, the state has 27 congressional districts but is losing one as a result of the 2020 census. Republicans hold eight of those seats.

The proposed maps could also pit several incumbents against each other or force them to run in new areas.

"Yes we have a problem with these maps," House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries said. "It would make Jim Crow blush."

Jeffries also called on the state Court of Appeals to "fix the mess they've created."...

Former New York city Mayor Bill de Blasio, who previously considering running in the redrawn NY-11, is now considering running in NY-10, which now encompasses his home of Park Slope....