New York’s redistricting tests Democratic opposition to gerrymandering

For decades, Democrats have claimed the high road when it comes to redrawing district lines for lawmakers, delivering earnest criticisms and arguing in court that their Republican opponents have operated unethically to maximize their power across a broad range of states.

Now, with their control of the U.S. House measured in a handful of seats, Democrats face a quandary: Make good on their rhetoric or seek to shore up their chance of staying in the majority by doing what they have long criticized Republicans for doing.

Reconfiguring New York’s congressional districts to benefit Democrats represents perhaps the party’s best shot at keeping the House majority. To do so, state Democrats will need to wrestle control of the redistricting process away from a bipartisan commission set up by voters after the last redrawing.

The temptation to do so will be great: This year marks the first time in a century that the New York Democrats have total control of state government, giving them autonomy over redistricting if they choose to take it.

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