Republican lawmakers in Texas and other states are advancing efforts to redraw congressional districts in their favor for the 2026 elections, prompting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to announce she is seriously weighing a restart of her state’s redistricting process—even if legal issues could arise.
Governor Says She’s Reviewing Possibilities
“We do a redistricting every 10 years, but there are other states that are violating the rules,” Hochul said during a recent press conference in Buffalo. “All I’ll say is I’m gonna look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.”
Hochul’s comments highlight the ongoing fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans currently enjoy a slim 219-212 margin, with four seats unfilled.
Texas Republicans have kicked off efforts to adjust their electoral maps to boost their hold, while Hochul argues New York can’t afford complacency.
Redistricting Law Presents Challenges
Despite Hochul’s intentions, experts warn there’s little to be done under New York’s current law, which only permits congressional districts to be redrawn once every ten years unless there’s a constitutional amendment—a process demanding passage in two consecutive public elections, which seems improbable ahead of 2026.
“When there’s political will, sometimes you can find a way to do something. It’s just way harder than it is in Texas,” commented Kyle Kondik, managing editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball, University of Virginia.
This comes as New York continues to recover from its last contentious redistricting round, when courts threw out a Democratic-drawn map in 2022 for excessive partisanship, only adopting a replacement map recently.
Democrats Mull Political Risks; Republicans Brace for Court Battles
Democratic strategists claim Hochul’s plan is about standing up to GOP maneuvering. “You can no longer bring a knife to a gunfight with these congressional Republicans,” Trip Yang, a consultant, told State of Politics. He suggests possible tweaks in favor of Democrats but warns not to provoke legal action.
Meanwhile, Republicans are preparing for a legal showdown. “I think you could expect a full legal battle, not just from Republicans, but good government groups,” said Peter Giunta, chair of the NYS Young Republicans.
Giunta also questioned the Democrats’ appeal. “Voters are voting Republican, and are a lot more open-minded to voting Republican, because of how woke some of the policies from the left have become,” he noted.
With Hochul heading into a reelection campaign, her decisions could impact races nationwide.
