The New York judge approves the map of Congress, confusing Democrats

On June 22, 2021, people fill out ballots at a polling station in New York City, Brooklyn, New York. REUTERS / Brendan McDermid

May 21 (Reuters) – A New York judge has approved a new congressional bid to oust two senior Democrats and increase the chances of the Republican Party winning more seats in the November by-election, further endangering the Democrats’ weak U.S. majority.

Justice Patrick McAllister, a judge in rural Stephen County, signed the map just before midnight on Friday, just weeks after New York’s High Court ruled that the redefining plan passed by the Democrat-controlled legislature was unconstitutional for the benefit of the party.

The Democrats’ map will give the party control of 22 of the state’s 26 congresses this fall, helping to balance the divisive maps of Republican-dominated states such as Florida, Georgia and Texas.

Republicans only need to flip through five seats in November to gain a majority in the House, which could block much of President Joe Biden’s agenda.

Jonathan Cervas, the court-appointed Special Master appointed to draw the new map, has filed with the court seeking the creation of eight competing districts with 15 pro-Democratic seats and three Republican leanings.

The map combines the Manhattan counties of Gerald Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, each of whom served in the House for 30 years, now leading the costly and top August First War.

In Westchester County, north of New York, the homes of two black Democrats, first-time congressional members Monter Jones and Jamal Bowman, were dragged into the same district.

Meanwhile, Sean Patrick Maloney, head of the campaign wing of the Democratic National Congress, said this week that he would run in the new district, which covers most of Jones ‘current seat, much to the chagrin of Jones’ allies. Against Maloney or Bowman.

But Jones said early Saturday morning that he would instead run in the new 10th District, which includes parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Bill de Blasio, the former mayor of New York, has already announced his intention to run for the district, which is expected to attract a large field of candidates. read more

The new map is a bitter disappointment to Democrats, who use their legislative majority to oust the aggressive Jerome. But after the Republicans filed the lawsuit, the courts ruled that the democratic map had misused the 2014 constitutional amendment, which aimed to remove discrimination from the redefinition.

Cervas said he had reviewed thousands of comments since the draft version was released on Monday, and that he had made some changes, including the reunification of several black communities and Asian American communities in New York City, which was originally divided.

Report by Joseph Ax; Editing Daniel Wallis

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