Jeffries Launches New York Redistricting Push After Supreme Court Ruling

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York is targeting his home state for redistricting gains as Republicans hurry to redraw congressional maps in several Southern states before November's midterm elections.

Jeffries announced the New York Democracy Project on Monday to study changes to the state's congressional map that would help Democrats, who control 19 of New York's 26 seats. The effort aims to encourage blue states to pursue partisan gerrymanders after the Supreme Court last week limited the use of race in drawing districts, a ruling that endangers more than a dozen Democratic seats.

In an interview with Politico, Jeffries named Colorado, Illinois and Maryland as prime locations for Democrats to gain seats through gerrymandering before 2028.

"This is just the beginning," Jeffries said in a Monday statement. "Across the nation, we will sue, we will redraw, and we will win."

"House Democrats will not allow a MAGA majority to be built on rigged maps and the dilution of Black voting strength," the top House Democrat said. "Ultimately, this will end poorly for Republican extremists. It's the American people who get to decide who wins the majority in Congress, not Donald Trump."

Democrats face obstacles to a new map in New York this year, but Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would collaborate with the legislature on redistricting before 2028.

"New York has always led the fight for voting rights, and we'll lead again," Hochul said of the potential gerrymander after last week's Supreme Court decision.

Jeffries tasked Rep. Joe Morelle of New York on Monday with meeting state lawmakers to discuss a new map. His office is considering a constitutional amendment as early as 2027 to let the legislature draw a Democratic-leaning plan.

New York Republicans condemned the plan on Monday.

"Jeffries, Hochul, and other New York Democrats insult the intelligence of voters, who strongly supported redistricting reforms in 2014, including a ban on partisan gerrymandering," state Republican Party chairman Ed Cox said in a statement. "Democrats tried to torpedo that reform but the people rejected their efforts in 2021. I am confident that they will do so yet again."

Jeffries spoke out hours after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a Republican-favorable congressional map that could add four GOP seats.

The Democrat called DeSantis's special session to redraw Florida's map "blatantly illegal" in a Monday statement. Jeffries vowed to challenge vulnerable Republicans in Florida as Democrats seek House control this fall.

"Democrats have brutally thwarted the MAGA midterm power grab, and we will continue to push back aggressively," he said. "See you in court."

President Donald Trump has pressed Republican-led states to enact new maps quickly before the midterms to bolster GOP chances in key districts. Republicans have approved favorable maps in Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Missouri, while Democrats created Democratic-leaning seats in California and Virginia.