Redistricting push could hurt Long Island Republicans

WASHINGTON — Long Island’s two U.S. House Republicans don't plan to sit idly by amid efforts by Albany Democrats to redraw congressional lines that might cost one of them their district.

"Let them come after my seat," Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) challenged Tuesday. "Because we’re not going to go quietly."

Meanwhile, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), is co-leading a bipartisan working group in Washington aimed at finding fair ways to scale back the partisan redistricting wars nationwide. He is also working on language for a constitutional amendment to keep states from redrawing congressional districts more often than every 10 years.

"What makes this especially disappointing is that neither party should be trying to manipulate district lines for short-term political gain," LaLota said. "Whether it's Republicans in Texas or Florida, or Democrats in New York, drawing increasingly safe districts only rewards political extremes, reduces accountability, and makes bipartisan problem-solving more difficult."

For now, both parties are moving ahead on redistricting.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) has been pushing Democrats in New York and other blue states to respond aggressively — in time for 2028’s elections — to a wave of Republican gerrymandering in Southern states as the GOP tries to keep narrow control of the 435-seat chamber.

Answering Jeffries’ call, New York’s Democratic-controlled State Legislature this week will vote on allowing a mid-decade redrawing of the Empire State’s congressional districts.

Democrats currently control 19 of the state’s 26 congressional seats. But passage of a referendum in 2027 could set the stage for as many as four more seats now held by Republicans to lean more Democratic.

That would include at least one Long Island district — either the one held by Garbarino that includes parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties, or LaLota’s Suffolk-based district.

Garbarino’s district already has a Democratic voter edge. The latest state numbers show it has 184,411 enrolled Democratic voters to 173,913 Republican, with more than 167,000 registered voters not enrolled in either party.

The three-term congressman says he wins in his district, "because I work hard and I do what I have to do to provide for Long Island. ... I cross party lines all the time, you know, when it’s right for Long Island."

Possible referendum

He said the outcome of a redistricting referendum in 2027 will depend on getting out the vote. "We’ll just have to do an education campaign when the referendum’s on the ballot next year," he said, predicting an intense Republican response.

Long Island’s two other districts are held by Democrats: Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre.)

Garbarino on Tuesday also questioned what Suozzi has to say about the Democratic plans in Albany. He noted that Suozzi just last week — as co-chair of the congressional Problems Solvers Caucus — announced that his group’s bipartisan working group would be "focused on reforming the process that has led to extreme partisan gerrymandering across the country."

But on Tuesday, Suozzi said the current situation justifies action by Democrats.

"I have long believed that gerrymandering is bad for America and that redistricting should be handled by independent commissions, not politicians," Suozzi said in a statement. "But with active efforts to redraw maps to gain more Republican seats nationwide, Democrats cannot unilaterally disarm. I don't like it, but until there are fair rules for everyone, Democrats have to compete."

Seeking solutions

Like Garbarino, LaLota is a member of the Problem Solvers group. He was named as a vice chair of the "gerrymandering working group" announced by Suozzi.

LaLota reiterated Tuesday that he’s set to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle "to strengthen public confidence in our elections, better protect voters from partisan manipulation, and advance the constitutional principles of fairness and equal protection that are fundamental to our democracy."

But he also said Gov. Kathy Hochul has been inconsistent in criticizing partisan gerrymandering in other states, only to support efforts to rewrite New York's Constitution "in a way that could further distort representation." He says Republicans regularly earn 43% of the vote but will hold only 12% of the congressional seats if Democrats' efforts succeed.

"I represent a competitive district, and that's a good thing," said LaLota, whose district has roughly 201,000 enrolled Republicans and 189,000 Democrats. "It requires me to earn support from Republicans, Democrats and independents by listening, persuading and delivering results."