Newly proposed congressional map means little change for LI districts
The new map makes big changes to upstate New York, but Long Island’s districts remain mostly untouched.
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A newly proposed congressional map was approved Thursday by a bipartisan state commission.
The new map makes big changes to upstate New York, but Long Island’s districts remain mostly untouched.
The biggest change on Long Island is in the Democrat-held 3rd Congressional District, which would extend farther into Queens.
Political analyst Mike Dawidziak says that move could favor Democrats.
Dawidziak said, “From what I can tell at first glance, Tom Suozzi’s district which he just got re-elected to looks like a little bit better district for a Democrat.”
The Republican-held fourth district appears unchanged. Civil rights attorney Fred Brewington says that is doing a disservice to communities of color.
The current map splits Black and Latino communities into two different districts. Westbury and New Cassel are in district three. Hempstead, Roosevelt and Freeport are in the 4th Congressional District.
Brewington said, “There’s a very sizable, large African-American, Hispanic community that is now going to be basically having their votes diluted in terms of their interests in that particular area.”
The proposed map is the latest in a two-year battle over redistricting.
The map currently being used was drawn by an independent special master in 2022, after the state’s highest court rejected a different map because of gerrymandering by Democrats.
The new map needs the approval of the state Legislature.
