FYI:
AI Overview
New York was not the first state to gerrymander in recent years, as partisan redistricting occurs nationwide, but in the 2020 cycle, New York Democrats passed one of the most aggressive, nationally scrutinized, and ultimately overturned gerrymanders in recent American history.
The New York Times
The New York Times
+3
Here is the breakdown of the situation:
The 2022 Overturn: In early 2022, New York Democrats used their supermajorities to pass a congressional map that would have heavily favored their party in 22 of 26 seats, which was described by experts as a "master class" in gerrymandering.
Constitutional Ban: This map was ruled unconstitutional by the New York Court of Appeals for violating a 2014 constitutional amendment prohibiting partisan gerrymandering.
Independent Commission Failure: The 2022 gerrymander occurred after the state's newly created bipartisan commission failed to agree on maps, allowing the legislature to take control.
Court-Ordered Maps: Following the ruling, a court-appointed special master drew new, more competitive maps for 2022.
Continued Litigation (2024"2026): Litigation continued into 2024 and 2026 over further redrawing of congressional maps, with courts again intervening to ensure compliance with constitutional, anti-gerrymandering rules.
Brennan Center for Justice
Brennan Center for Justice
+6
While other states like Illinois, Maryland, and Texas are known for aggressive partisan redistricting, New York's high-profile attempt to reverse the political balance of the House of Representatives by overturning their own newly established commission process made it a focal point of 2020s gerrymandering debates.
The New York Times
The New York Times
+1