Mid-decade congressional redistricting took another twist last week; this time in New York. On Jan. 21, in the case Williams vs. New York State Board of Elections, Acting Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ordered the state’s so-called Independent Redistricting Commission to draw new lines for New York’s 11th congressional district, covering Staten Island, which currently is represented by Republican Nicole Malliotakis.

Along with mid-decade redistricting actions in several other states, the Williams litigation and resulting developments could have important ramifications, from how to ensure voting rights, to which party controls the House of Representatives in 2027. Since last summer, new lines have been drawn in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina following President Trump’s effort to win more Republican congressional districts through mid-decade redistricting.

Democrats are fighting back in Virginia and Maryland where new maps are currently being considered. Republicans in Florida are expected to take up mid-decade redistricting in a few months. As discussed below, much remains to be seen in this New York story.

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