NY Judge Rules 11th District Unconstitutional, Orders Redraw

A New York state judge ruled Wednesday that the 11th Congressional District, which spans Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn and is represented by Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, violates the state constitution by diluting the voting power of Black and Latino residents. The decision, from Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman, orders the state's Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the district's boundaries by February 6, potentially reshaping New York City's only Republican-held House seat ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Pearlman determined that the current lines, in place since 2024, contribute to the underrepresentation of minority voters in the district, which has a history of racially polarized voting. The ruling cites Article III, Section 4(c)(1) of the New York Constitution, which prohibits racial vote dilution. Challengers, including four Staten Island residents represented by the Elias Law Group, argued that linking Staten Island to more conservative areas of southern Brooklyn limits the ability of Black and Latino voters to elect candidates of their choice. Expert testimony and data presented in court supported claims of ongoing...