For residents of a town and village in Cayuga County, redistricting has left them in an odd spot. The Democrat-led state Legislature gave approval for New York’s redrawn congressional districts on Wednesday, February 2.
Now, the maps need final approval from Governor Kathy Hochul, but they could still be challenged by Republicans in court, according to Spectrum Local News. The state Assembly approved the maps 103-45. The state Senate approved the maps in a 43-20 vote.
The state Legislature has split the town of Brutus and the village within it into two congressional districts, the redrawn 22nd and 24th. The town of Weedsport to the south will also be split up into the two districts, with some streets in the 22nd and some in the 24th, according to The Citizen.
“It’s a very strange line,” said Democratic Cayuga County election commissioner Katie Lacey. “It goes through the village of Weedsport like a wild mouse.”
While the splitting up of a town into two districts is unusual, it’s happened in Cayuga County before- In 2002 congressional redistricting, the town of Conquest was split, with the northern half in the 25th district and the southern half in the 24th.
Lacey confirmed the county will need to alter election districts because of the redistricting plan.
U.S. Rep. Chris Jacobs (R) is running for reelection in the 24th district. The 22nd is an open seat as U.S. Rep. John Katko (R) announced he will not seek a fifth term in Congress.
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