Two groups in New York are urging the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling that stops the state from using its current congressional map for the 2026 elections. The ruling calls for a new map to ensure fair representation for Black and Latino voters.
• A state trial judge, Justice Jeffrey Pearlman, ruled that New York must redraw its congressional map to prevent dilution of votes for Black and Latino communities in the 11th Congressional District, which includes Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn.
• Critics of the existing map filed the lawsuit, arguing it violated New York's constitution regarding voter representation.
• Pearlman's ruling requires a new map to be proposed by the state’s independent redistricting commission.
• Defenders of the current map, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and state election officials, challenged this ruling, claiming it contradicts constitutional provisions regarding equal protection and racial gerrymandering.
• The state’s highest court did not have jurisdiction over the case, and the intermediate appellate court also declined the request to pause Pearlman's ruling.
• Governor Kathy Hochul and other officials emphasized that there is enough time to resolve the matter without causing chaos in the upcoming elections.
This legal battle highlights significant concerns about voter representation and the authority of state courts versus the Supreme Court's intervention in state matters. The outcome will impact Congress elections in New York.
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