ALBANY- The Independent Redistricting Commission has reconvened and accomplished something that it had not been able to do earlier in the year—release a single set of proposed legislative maps for the State Assembly.
After a court battle that resulted in the invalidation of maps for New York’s State Senate and Congressional districts, new maps were drawn by a court appointed special master that served as the districts for the 2022 election. The Assembly maps, however, that were not part of the original lawsuit, were drawn by the legislature and approved with bipartisan support.
Several outside groups successfully took up an effort to have the court invalidate these maps, with the court ordering that new maps must be adopted for the 2024 election. Unlike with the state Senate and Congressional maps, many Republican Assembly members supported the lower house’s redistricting plan and joined Democrats in their ultimately unsuccessful legal effort to preserve the current districts.
Tasked with redrawing the districts is a 10-member commission, known as the Independent Redistricting Commission, made up of both Democrats and Republicans. This commission was previously unsuccessful in providing a single redistricting plan with commissioners from each party releasing dueling proposals, but in this latest plan found unanimous consent, with members highlighting their unification behind a single plan.
There are significant changes proposed for Assembly districts in the Mid-Hudson region.
The proposed map would pit veteran Assemblymembers Karl Brabenec (R-Deerpark) with Aileen Gunther (D-Forestburgh) in the new 100th district encompassing all of Sullivan County, as well as parts of Orange and Delaware counties. The plan would also effectively eliminate the present 101st Assembly district, which runs from Orange County to the suburbs of Utica and has been regarded by experts as one of the most egregious examples of gerrymandering. Significant changes are also proposed for Assembly districts in Dutchess and Ulster counties.
Before April, when the final map is due to the legislature and Governor Hochul for approval, there will be a series of public hearings throughout the state. If the legislature is not pleased with the commission’s final plan, it will have an opportunity to draw and approve its own map proposal.
For more information on the proposed maps, visit https://www.nyirc.gov/assembly-plan.
