Missouri, New York, and Louisiana Consider Taking Early Steps Toward Possible Mid-Cycle Map Redraws

Missouri, New York, and Louisiana Consider Taking Early Steps Toward Possible Mid-Cycle Map Redraws

All three states are laying procedural groundwork but face distinct hurdles: executive hesitation and intra-party risk in Missouri, constitutional lead times in New York, and judicial uncertainty in Louisiana. Missouri: Gov. Mike Kehoe is “assessing options” for a special session after former President Donald Trump urged a 7-1 GOP map. No draft lines have been released, but Republican leaders say any plan would likely split Kansas City’s 5th District to unseat Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. New York: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie confirms leaders are “having discussions” after Gov. Kathy Hochul floated a Texas-style response, yet notes any mid-decade map would require…
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Mid-Decade Redistricting: Where Else Could It Happen?

Mid-Decade Redistricting: Where Else Could It Happen?

Gov. Greg Abbott put mid-decade redistricting on the agenda after Trump suggested a redraw and after a Trump-aligned DOJ letter questioned the legality of four existing districts. Texas’s special session, which convened on July 21 in part to redraw the congressional map, set off a chain reaction among states looking to counter what some say is an "unusual move," although not unprecedented. On July 30, House Republicans released a draft map that could flip the state’s delegation from 25-13 to roughly 30-8 in the GOP’s favor. Texas Democrats have fled the state to deny their Republican counterparts a quorum, and…
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New York’s Complicated Redistricting Rules: NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update (July 28, 2025)

New York’s Complicated Redistricting Rules: NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update (July 28, 2025)

This New York redistricting update is excerpted from citylandnyc.org with permission from the New York Law School. New York’s Complicated Redistricting Rules Following the national attention on the politically-driven re-redistricting taking place in Texas and the legally required remapping in Ohio, New York is often mentioned as one state where the Democrats can redraw the congressional map. Here are a few state rules and facts to consider: According to the state constitution, a redistricting map shall remain in force until the effective date of the next enacted map based upon the subsequent federal decennial census unless modified pursuant to a…
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Can New York Redraw Its Congressional Districts?: NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update (July 21, 2025)

Can New York Redraw Its Congressional Districts?: NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update (July 21, 2025)

This New York redistricting update is excerpted from citylandnyc.org with permission from the New York Law School. Can New York Redraw Its Congressional Districts? As the Texas Legislature begins to meet this week to take up a partisan effort to redraw the state’s congressional map, California Governor Gavin Newsom is exploring how his state could redraw its map to counter the power play in the Lone Star State. Governor Newsom believes that one must play hardball when confronted by the type of demands requested by the White House. The Texas Legislature has few restrictions on what it can do when redistricting. The…
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Redistricting Update. Week of February 11, 2024: News from FL, NY, NC, WA, and WI.

Redistricting Update. Week of February 11, 2024: News from FL, NY, NC, WA, and WI.

Redistricting developments in the states for the week of February 11, 2024. Click on the state button for more news and media. Florida Florida officials, legislators fight speeding up redistricting case New York New House lines approved in New York. What would change. North Carolina Redistricting plaintiffs oppose consolidation of two federal cases Washington What we can learn from Washington’s independent redistricting commission Wisconsin Wisconsin Legislature passes Democratic governor’s redistricting maps Find us on: This is some text Hey look. More text! Find us on:
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Redistricting Update: Week of January 14, 2024. News from MI, NY, ND, and WI.

Redistricting Update: Week of January 14, 2024. News from MI, NY, ND, and WI.

Redistricting developments in the states for the week of January 14, 2024. Click on the state button for more news and media. NationalBrennan Center analysis suggests 2030 redistricting could bring big increases for the South (Ohio Capital Journal) Michigan Michigan redistricting panel asks court for permission to use unconstitutional maps Michigan redistricting commission holds special meeting, decides against raising its salaries Special masters appointed to help redraw Detroit-area districts; these are the important dates Court lays out redistricting timeline for maps ruled unconstitutional New York New York Hispanic Voters File First Lawsuit Under State Voting Rights Act North Dakota Judge…
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Redistricting Update: Week of January 7, 2024. News from GA, KY, MI, NY, NC, and WI.

Redistricting Update: Week of January 7, 2024. News from GA, KY, MI, NY, NC, and WI.

Redistricting developments in the states for the week of January 7, 2024 . Click on the state button for more news and media. NationalRedistricting Decisions Will Reshape Legislative Maps in Wisconsin and Michigan (Democracy Docket) Georgia Georgia lawmakers send redrawn congressional map keeping 9-5 Republican edge to judge for approval Judge rules against civil rights groups in Georgia redistricting appeal Kentucky Kentucky redistricting is upheld Michigan Michigan Political Map Axed in ‘Seismic’ Blow to Commissions 3 Michigan redistricting commissioners resign, random selection to bean held in January Three new members selected for Michigan redistricting commission Michigan redistricting commission votes to…
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NY Court Orders Redistricting Commission to Draw a “Second” Congressional Map

NY Court Orders Redistricting Commission to Draw a “Second” Congressional Map

Today New York's Supreme Court, Appellate Division directed the state's Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to submit a second congressional map to comply with the NY State Constitution. This decision (with 2 of 5 judges on the panel dissenting) will likely be appealed to the state's highest court. A state court has already required the IRC to draw and submit a second state house map after its initial failure to agree on any state redistricting map in January of 2022. Read the court's opinion here. From the court opinion: "The IRC had an indisputable duty under the NY Constitution to submit…
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Update: Status of New York Redistricting Maps. June 2023

Update: Status of New York Redistricting Maps. June 2023

New York's post-2020 census redistricting continues to be contentious. Here is an update on the legal status of the congressional and state legislative maps. In 2022 state courts invalidated all three of New York state's redistricting maps (Congressional, state senate, and state assembly) on procedural grounds after the New York Independent Redistricting Commission deadlocked on maps. With no provision in the state constitution addressing exactly what should happen in the case of a commission deadlock, the legislature enacted its own maps in February of 2022. Later, a state trial court held that the legislature overstepped when it adopted maps and…
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Briefs Filed in Litigation to Redraw New York’s  Congressional Map

Briefs Filed in Litigation to Redraw New York’s Congressional Map

Last week, briefs were filed in a case brought by a group of voters to redraw New York's current congressional map. The state used a map drawn by a court special master to conduct the 2022 election after a map drawn by the legislature was deemed a partisan gerrymander. The New York legislature had only passed its map after a newly established independent redistricting commission (NYIRC), deadlocked on maps in January of 2022. Now the question is whether the legislature, the commission, or both can have another go at it. A trial court in September of 2022 unequivocally answered "no"…
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