Key facts
- New York Democrats have advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to redraw the state's congressional map for the 2028 election cycle.
- The amendment would allow state lawmakers to bypass an independent redistricting commission and draw new, more favorable lines.
- The amendment must be passed again in 2027 and approved by voters in a referendum before the 2028 elections.
- The current ban on partisan gerrymandering would be eliminated.
- Democrats currently hold 19 of New York's 26 U.S. House seats, and a new map could add up to four seats.
- Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have urged lawmakers to act aggressively.
New York Democrats have initiated the process to redraw the state's congressional map for the 2028 election cycle, a move that could potentially secure additional U.S. House of Representatives seats for the party. The state Senate and Assembly, both controlled by Democrats, have advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would permit lawmakers to bypass the independent redistricting commission and create new, more advantageous district lines. This amendment requires legislative approval again in 2027 and subsequent voter approval in a referendum before the 2028 elections. Notably, the amendment would remove New York's existing prohibition on partisan gerrymandering. Currently, Democrats hold 19 of the state's 26 U.S. House seats, and analysts suggest a revised map could add up to four seats. Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have encouraged state lawmakers to act decisively in response to Republican redistricting efforts nationwide, particularly following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened the Voting Rights Act. New York is anticipated to be among multiple states planning new maps ahead of the 2028 elections.