A group of Staten Island voters* filed a lawsuit in state court Monday arguing New York’s 2024 congressional map dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino residents in violation of state law.
They’re seeking a redraw of New York’s Congressional District 11, which includes all of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, and is currently held by Republicans. If successful, the legal effort could give Democrats an additional seat in Congress — helping to counter a slew of recent pro-Republican gerrymanders in GOP-controlled states.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has signaled her support for Democratic redistricting in response to Trump’s plan. The New York congressional delegation is currently made up of 19 Democratic seats and seven Republican seats.
New York’s 11th congressional district is currently represented by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, New York City’s only Republican member of Congress.
Trump endorsed Malliotakis for re-election in a social media post over the weekend.
The plaintiffs argue the existing map provides Black and Latino Staten Islanders less opportunity than other members of the electorate to elect a representative of their choice, violating the state constitution’s prohibition against racial vote dilution, as well as the New York Voting Rights Act’s protection of coalition and minority influence districts.
“The racial demographics of Staten Island have changed significantly over the last several decades, but the 2024 Congressional Map does not reflect those changes,” the plaintiffs said in their complaint.
They’re also arguing that District 11’s boundaries are “antiquated” when compared to the New York State Assembly map, which “links communities of interest in Staten Island’s North Shore and southern Manhattan,” according to the complaint.
The voters are asking the court to order the legislature to create a minority-influence district that pairs Staten Island with lower Manhattan.
The Staten Island voters are represented by the Elias Law Group (ELG). ELG firm chair Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket.
