A group of New Yorkers has filed a lawsuit against the state’s Board of Elections, alleging that the congressional map for Staten Island unfairly weakens the voting power of Black and Latino residents. The complaint, filed Monday, challenges the boundaries of the 11th congressional district, currently represented by Republican Nicole Malliotakis. The case adds a new chapter to the ongoing national battle between Democrats and Republicans over redistricting ahead of the midterm elections.
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Lawsuit Targets Staten Island District
The legal challenge focuses on New York’s 11th congressional district, claiming that its design fails to reflect Staten Island’s growing Black and Latino populations. The plaintiffs argue the current map violates the New York Voting Rights Act by confining minority voters to an area where they cannot meaningfully influence election outcomes. The complaint asserts that the district’s outdated boundaries perpetuate racial discrimination and segregation in Staten Island’s political landscape.
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Battle Over Partisan Redistricting
The lawsuit is part of a larger nationwide fight between Democrats and Republicans over congressional boundaries. Both parties are trying to redraw maps in their favor before the next election cycle. The case comes amid President Donald Trump’s call for red states like Texas to rework their districts to secure more Republican seats in 2026. Democrats, in response, have begun similar efforts in blue states such as California and Maryland to maintain balance in Congress.
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Legal and Political Obstacles for Democrats
Despite their efforts, Democrats face more barriers to aggressive redistricting compared to Republicans. Michael Kang, a Northwestern University law professor specializing in redistricting, explained, “The Democrats are trying to respond, but they have much greater obstacles – legal obstacles – in their way in places like California and New York.” He noted that reforms meant to prevent gerrymandering now make it harder for Democrats to modify maps mid-decade.
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Elias Law Group Leads Legal Effort
The lawsuit was filed by the Elias Law Group, a firm known for representing Democrats in redistricting cases across several states, including Texas, Nevada, and Wisconsin. The group’s petition highlights that Staten Island’s Black and Latino communities have expanded significantly in recent decades, yet remain politically marginalized. The filing argues that the failure to update district lines undermines fair representation and violates state voting rights protections.
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Impact of New York’s 2014 Redistricting Amendment
New York Democrats face an additional challenge due to a 2014 constitutional amendment that transferred the power to draw legislative districts from lawmakers to an independent commission. According to Shawn Donahue, a political science professor at the University of Buffalo, this reform limits how much Democrats can alter the map. “The soonest the state could make some changes on the commission and some of the limitations on gerrymandering… would be before the 2028 election,” Donahue said.
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A Strategy to Prompt Change
Experts suggest the current lawsuit may serve as a strategic step to push for limited revisions within the 11th district. “The lawsuit seems to be a way that, if they are successful, to at least make some changes to one district,” Donahue added. The outcome could influence not only Staten Island’s representation but also broader efforts by Democrats to counter Republican redistricting strategies nationwide.