DCCC issues support for aggressive New York gerrymander that could eliminate 5 GOP seats

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The national Democratic Party is urging Democrats in New York to support a gerrymander plan that could drastically change the political makeup of the state's delegation in Washington by eliminating five of the eight Republican seats in Congress.

In an "Interested Parties" memo with the title of "Preserving and Strengthening Communities of Interest" Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney urges Democrats in Albany to support a 23 Democrat 3 Republican gerrymander in order to correct "imbalances" in the current map.  

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., prepares for an interview during the last House votes of the week in the Capitol on Friday, September 27, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

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"In New York City and the surrounding areas, the current map does a serviceable job ensuring that communities are linked together and that minority representation is strong - as the New York State constitution requires," the memo states. "Of course, communities have changed over the past decade and the new map should reflect that. Ultimately, although lines may shift or expand, the districts must preserve the ability of minority communities to elect their chosen representatives to Congress. Groups like the Unity Coalition have suggested maps that adhere to the state constitutional requirement that maps shall not abridge the voting rights of racial or language minorities."

House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., attends a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center after a meeting of the conference on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams )

Maloney has criticized Republicans over gerrymandering in the past including a statement in June of last year when he accused them of using gerrymandering to accumulate more power.

"While Republicans clearly think their best way back to power is suppressing and gerrymandering their way to a majority, Democrats are committed to the fight of protecting and expanding voting rights for all Americans," Maloney said. 

Only three current Republicans, Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Chris Jacobs, and Rep. Andrew Gabarino, would remain safe under this new plan, according to Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman.

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Former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer Marc Elias issued support for the memo on Twitter calling it a "fair plan."

In a statement to Fox News, DCCC Communications Director Chris Hayden said, "The Chairman’s priority is to ensure that the state of New York has a map that represents communities of interest so that every voter’s voice is heard in Washington. The state’s public comment process is critical to a healthy democracy and the only venue for public comment, so as a citizen of the state Congressman Maloney chose to participate in that process."

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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis speaks (R-NY) during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing. (Photo by Susan Walsh-Pool/Getty Images) (Susan Walsh-Pool/Getty Images)

"The people of the state of New York voted, not once but twice, for non-partisan redistricting," Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who represents New York's 11th congressional district, told Fox News in a statement. "To entertain a map drawn by Nancy Pelosi's chief campaign operative and head of a DC organization focused on only electing Democrats to Congress is highly inappropriate, defies the will of New York's voters and is a direct assault on the state constitution. They know they can't win on policy, merit, or debate so this is a desperate attempt to tilt the scale to give Democrats an advantage."

Members of New York's bipartisan redistricting commission reached an impasse earlier this week on an effort to negotiate a new map which means the state legislature, which is overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats, can now seize control over the reapportionment process

The redistricting commission had been mired in partisanship, and many had lost hope it could come up with a bipartisan proposal in its first outing since New York voters established it in 2014.

"We have negotiated with our Republican colleagues in good faith for two years to achieve a single consensus plan. At every step, they have refused to agree to a compromise," the commission’s Democratic members said in a statement they released Monday morning.

Nick Langworthy, the state Republican Party chairman, disagreed with that conclusion saying, "This commission has been a sham since day one when Democrats totally co-opted the process. They made clear they had no interest in working in a bipartisan manner to draw lines that were in the best interest of New Yorkers."

Associated Press contributed to this report