How Redistricting Happened in New York
The following timeline is a high-level overview outlining major redistricting events and activity in the state of New York over the last 10 years.
2011
Census data delivered to New York.
New York lost two congressional seats after reapportionment.
2012
An advisory commission and divided chambers of the state legislature attempted to draw and reconcile respective congressional maps, but failed.
After extensive litigation, a federal court designated responsibility to a magistrate judge, with the assistance of a redistricting expert, to issue a recommended map, relying in part on submissions from the various parties to the litigation. The court ultimately accepted the recommended map with some minor modifications.
State Legislature Timeline
2012
The state legislature struggled to reconcile changes to the advisory commission’s map, but after a political fight between the state Assembly, state Senate, and governor, the parties passed new maps. The state redistricting plans withstood considerable litigation.
2013
The state legislature passed a weak redistricting reform constitutional amendment for the 2020 redistricting cycle.
2018
Republicans effectively have the majority through a power-sharing agreement with the Independent Democratic Caucus. The NDRC is watching state Senate elections to ensure Democrats are fully represented during the next redistricting process.