Update: New York Commission on Redistricting Approves New Map

By M. C. Millman

February 15, 2024  - 3:20 p.m.

The New York Redistricting Commission votes 9-1 to send new congressional maps proposal to the Legislature for approval. The new maps largely keep House lines in place, with some changes being made to some upstate House district boundaries but having no effect in Congressman Mike Lawler's New York's 17th Congressional District.

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After the New York State Court of Appeals ruled to allow for a redrawn congressional map, as reported by Rockland Daily here in December, today’s long-awaited redistricting draft is expected to result in only minor and moderate variations.

The bipartisan New York State Independent Redistricting Commission will vote at 2 p.m. today in Albany on the new lines for House seats in New York. It is expected that the redistricting commission will make minor adjustments that will help Democrats in some critical races while avoiding aggressive changes that will bring on new legal challenges from Republicans.

Rockland’s concern has been how the changes will affect Congressman Mike Lawler’s district. Although lines haven’t been officially released, present expectations are that Rockland’s district will remain essentially unchanged, leaving Congressman Mike Lawler’s swing district as is, instead of shifting it toward Democrats as Democrats had hoped for in December.

Once the commission approves the lines, approval by both houses of the state Legislature would be necessary. 

The session is open to the public and will be streamed online here.