Allowing for mid-decade redrawing of electoral districts through a constitutional amendment would nonetheless exclude the practice of partisan gerrymandering.
In the political landscape of New York, a proposed constitutional amendment is making waves. The amendment, introduced by State Sen. Michael Gianaris and Assembly Member Micah Lasher, aims to enable off-year (mid-decade) redistricting, but only if another state enacts mid-decade redistricting first. As of late July 2025, the amendment remains in the Senate Rules Committee, indicating it has not advanced far yet.
The proposed amendment seeks to address the issue of partisan redistricting in other states, while maintaining current safeguards against partisan gerrymandering in New York. This includes criteria that prohibit drawing districts to favor or disfavor incumbents, candidates, or political parties. Supporters argue this balance responds to partisan moves in other states, while preserving fairness and constitutional principles.
Key officials have expressed cautious stances regarding the amendment. Governor Kathy Hochul, for instance, has not ruled out the possibility of mid-decade redistricting but recognizes the constitutional and procedural challenges involved. She has had conversations with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on the topic but no public outright endorsement or opposition has been given.
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie have not explicitly detailed their formal positions, but the amendment's introduction by prominent Democratic legislators and its framing around responding to partisan moves in other states suggest at least some Democratic leadership alignment with the initiative, though with a commitment to maintaining anti-gerrymandering rules.
Practically, the New York State Constitution currently prohibits mid-decade redistricting except under court orders, and these constitutional barriers make the chances of this amendment enabling immediate mid-term map changes very slim. Analysts estimate under a 1% chance of mid-decade redistricting occurring in New York before 2026.
Notably, the amendment does not affect the upcoming congressional races next year. The earliest that voters could weigh in on the proposed amendment is 2027.
In the midst of these discussions, it's worth noting that the current Court of Appeals ruled in the Legislature's favor in 2024, giving both the Legislature and the Independent Redistricting Commission another shot at redrawing the map. The state's highest court, now led by a more liberal chief judge, is expected to draw a different conclusion if a comparable map is presented.
Gianaris, a strong advocate for the amendment, has been vocal about his stance, calling the court ruling "completely illegitimate". Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is open to the amendment, and Gianaris and a number of his colleagues have support for the proposed amendment.
If passed, the Legislature could immediately draw and pass new district lines under the proposed amendment, requiring a simple majority, as opposed to the two-thirds majority needed during the usual process. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins is open to considering the change. Governor Hochul is in "active talks with local and national leaders" and plans to meet with them soon to "align our next move".
The proposed amendment, while still in the early stages, represents a significant shift in New York's redistricting process. Its progress and potential impact will continue to be closely watched as the political landscape evolves.
- The proposed constitutional amendment, which aims to facilitate off-year redistricting in New York under specific conditions, is currently being debated in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news, as it may alter the political dynamics of the state.
- The amendment's introduction, which seeks to balance partisan redistricting concerns while maintaining safeguards against partisan gerrymandering, is a hot topic in the world of politics, with key officials expressing cautious stances and analysts estimating its chances of success as slim but notnonexistent.
