State Democrats have released proposed redistricting maps that would see the Third Congressional District stretch from Suffolk into the Bronx and into Rye in Westchester County.
US Rep. Tom Suozzi currently holds the seat but is giving it up as he runs for governor.
The proposed redistricting would give Democrats far more seats, even as the state loses one seat because of population changes. If the new maps stand, Democrats could claim as many as 22 seats, with Republicans likely to take 4. Democrats currently hold a 19-8 seat advantage in the state
The new 3rd district would follow a thinner, more elongated path along the Long Island Sound across five counties.
State Republican chairman Nick Langworthy called the plans “textbook filthy, partisan gerrymandering.”
Huntington Republican Town Chairman Tom McNally said the redistricting plan “Goes directly against what we saw in the last election. People made it very clear that’s not the direction they want to go in. To put something like this in place where the goal is clearly to cement or establish dominance for the next 10 years make it extremely difficult for Republicans to be elected goes against the will of the people.”
It is unclear what effect the changes might mean for the many Long Islanders who have already been running for weeks or months to succeed Suozzi.
BREAKING: here is NY Dems’ full congressional proposal, courtesy of @zach_solomon1. This is a 22D-4R gerrymander – and a pretty effective one. https://t.co/QleEKPMJy8 pic.twitter.com/yd7Iqx6DPh
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) January 30, 2022
Redistricting map: Black lines show current map; purple show proposed new map.