Hochul signs New York congressional map into law

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Thursday signed into law a new congressional map that would give Democrats a more significant political advantage over Republicans, The Associated Press reported. 

New York’s state legislature passed the map, which could help Democrats flip as many as three House seats, on Wednesday.

While New York is slated to lose a congressional seat as a result of population decline, the map favors Democrats in 22 House districts and Republicans in four. New York’s congressional delegation is currently made up of 19 Democrats and eight Republicans.

Republicans have criticized the map, which was proposed by New York Democrats after the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission was unable to come up with new congressional lines, saying it is an attempt by Democrats to keep their majority in the House come November as Republicans appear set to regain control of the chamber. 

Republicans have said they are considering mounting legal challenges against the map, which they argue violates the state constitution, according to the AP.

New York’s Democratic leadership, meanwhile, has said that the new map reflects the state’s population shifts over the last decade. 

New York’s midterm election primaries are scheduled to take place in June, the AP noted.