The bipartisan commission that was supposed to draw new congressional district maps has until Tuesday to come up with a plan.
If it doesn’t, Democratic state lawmakers will take control, and will likely draw maps that will lead to charges of gerrymandering. That’s the reason New York created the redistricting commission in 2014, but the commission of five Democrats and five Republicans have agreed on little, submitting two plans, one favoring each party.
Meanwhile, candidates can begin taking out nominating papers on March 1 for June primaries. What they don’t know is what district they’ll be running in.
The last time new districts were drawn, following the 2020 census, the Senate and Assembly were unable to agree on boundaries, so a federal court drew the map.
Two congressional incumbents have announced they will not seek re-election, Tom Reed in what is currently the 23rd District and John Katko, currently in the 24th.
Further complicating the redistricting is that New York will lose one of its current 27 districts.
