Amid Texas Redistricting Push, Hochul Moves to Authorize Redrawing Congressional Lines Mid-Decade

As Texas Republicans work to redraw their congressional map mid-decade to secure more seats in Congress, Governor Kathy Hochul is signaling that New York may follow suit, if other states move first.

The proposal, introduced as a constitutional amendment, would allow New York to change its congressional boundaries between census cycles, a shift from current law. It’s being framed as a defensive move in response to GOP efforts in states like Texas to reshape maps.

“Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they are leaving us no choice. We must do the same,” Hochul said during a press conference Monday in Albany.

If passed, the earliest the amendment could take effect would be for the 2028 election.

New York’s current constitution requires an independent redistricting commission to draw new maps every ten years. But that commission deadlocked during the last round of redistricting, triggering court battles and intense political wrangling — and casting doubt on the system’s effectiveness.

Hochul has gone a step further, saying she would like to see the commission either dismantled or significantly reformed. That suggestion drew fire from Republicans in Albany.

“The fact that we have an independent redistricting commission [that] tries or attempts to make as much as it possibly can, politics out of the process. That didn’t completely work last time. The idea that she’s willing to give that up just kinda goes to show she’s willing to put politics over policy — public policy — and I think it’s very, very troublesome,” said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler slammed Hochul’s announcement. “Every voter in New York should be outraged by Kathy Hochul’s brazen disregard for the state constitution. Her full-throated endorsement of partisan gerrymandering is only about advancing her and her party’s political providence through the abuse of her office,” Lawler said. “I have always opposed partisan gerrymandering, and strongly disagree with the actions taken by Texas for mid-decade redistricting. However, this does not change the fact that New York voters have repeatedly made it clear that they support an independent redistricting commission to draw fair maps and strongly oppose mid-decade redistricting.”

The commission was created through a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 2014. Good government groups, including the League of Women Voters New York, argue that while the system didn’t perform perfectly, it’s still better than handing power back to politicians.