NY GOP could gain in redistricting plan

ALBANY -- New York Republicans could gain up to four congressional seats this fall, the legislature's top Republican said Wednesday -- including one at the eastern end of Long Island -- under a redistricting map unveiled by a federal judge.

"I think we can potentially pick up 3 to 4 congressional seats, mostly upstate," Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said.

The most vulnerable Democrats, he said, are Reps. Kathy Hochul (D-Amherst) in Western New York, Louise Slaughter (D-Fairport) in Greater Rochester, Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh) in Northern New York and Tim Bishop (D-Southampton). In response, Bishop noted he has carried the eastern end of Suffolk County multiple times and plans on winning again.

U.S. Magistrate Roanne Mann released a proposed congressional map Tuesday for New York that could become law if the State Senate and Assembly don't agree on a plan. Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) have both said they expect to reach a deal next week. Still, Skelos has filed objections with the judge's plan.

He especially wants to forgo the judge's proposal to change Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) to an all South Shore district and Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) to an entirely North Shore one. Under the judge's proposal, Skelos noted: "You have Peter King starting at his house and going all the way out to Babylon and Steve Israel starting in Huntington and going all the way to Queens. So I think those need to be adjusted."

Skelos thinks Republican Randy Altschuler can defeat Democrat Bishop in a rematch of their close 2010 race. But Bishop said redistricting won't help the GOP.

"The magistrate's map barely changes my district, where I've already won five times including unseating an incumbent and winning in the worst cycle for my party in a generation," Bishop said in an email.

The Democrat-controlled Assembly didn't file any objections to Mann's plan. While not wholly endorsing it, Silver said the judge's proposal was a "template for whatever deal may be made."

New York's delegation must shrink from 29 to 27 due to Census changes. To do so, Mann proposed carving up the upstate district of Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley), who is retiring, and Rep. Bob Turner (R-Queens), the delegation's newest member.