A judge ordered New York to redraw a Republican-held district, citing racial vote dilution, ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The boundaries of the only Republican-held congressional district in New York, which includes Staten Island and portions of Brooklyn, must be redrawn, according to a state judge who ruled that the current map unconstitutionally reduces the voting power of Black and Hispanic citizens. The bipartisan redistricting commission must submit a new map by February 6 in advance of the 2026 midterm elections, according to the ruling, which is based on evidence of racially polarized voting and historical discrimination. A Democratic-aligned law firm filed the lawsuit, claiming that the district did not adequately reflect demographic shifts, especially the increasing numbers of Black and Latino residents on Staten Island. Republicans, such as Representative Nicole Malliotakis, promised to file an appeal after dismissing the decision as a partisan attempt to weaken their position. The new map, which could change the balance of power in Congress, must be approved by the state legislature.