How New Yorks Redistricting Hurt the G.O.P. and Vax Daddy – The New York Times

This obviously locks in the supermajorities, and means that the crux of New York State politics for interest groups, for labor, for everyone is going to be the ideological fight among Democrats in a primary, said Matt Rey, a partner at the political consulting firm Red Horse Strategies. New York is now moving to the California model.

Elsewhere in the 150-seat Assembly, which Democrats have controlled since 1975, some of the redrawn lines appear to offer additional protection for other incumbent party members. Others seemed to ensure that tossup races in key suburban areas including Long Islands North Shore, the Capitol Region and near Syracuse remained competitive.

The biggest changes, however, involve the State Senate, where Democrats controlled the redistricting process for the first time in decades after regaining a majority in the chamber in 2018.

The new maps appear to improve Democrats chances of flipping at least three Republican-held Senate seats. In a reflection of New York Citys population growth and demographic changes, lawmakers shifted two upstate Senate districts to Brooklyn and Queens. Both are expected to be safe seats for Democrats.

The new lines also give slight edges to Democratic incumbents in highly competitive districts, including on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, before the November election, when all legislative seats will be on the ballot.

Even so, Democrats recent gains in Albany are bound to be tested in significant ways this year, with Republicans helped by President Bidens flagging approval ratings and concerns about crime and inflation poised to perform well in the congressional midterm elections and, potentially, in down-ballot races.

In justifying the new maps, Mr. Gianaris and other Senate Democrats say the lines merely restore the proper balance of power after decades of Republicans drawing maps that maximize their waning influence in an increasingly Democratic state.

Visit link:

How New Yorks Redistricting Hurt the G.O.P. and Vax Daddy - The New York Times