New Mexico Congressional Redistricting Challenge

Lawsuit filed by the Republican Party of New Mexico, state Sen. David Gallegos (R), former state Sen. Timothy Jennings (D) and a group of Republican voters challenging New Mexico’s congressional map drawn with 2020 census data. The plaintiffs argue that the new map — which is predicted to include one safe Democratic seat and two highly competitive seats — is a partisan gerrymander that favors Democrats in violation of the New Mexico Constitution. The complaint alleges that the map drawers split communities of interest and unnecessarily divided counties, cities and significant areas, such as Albuquerque, to achieve a partisan outcome. The plaintiffs asks the court to strike down the new map and order the creation of a “partisan-neutral” map. The court denied the plaintiffs’ request to block the map for the 2022 election cycle and the plaintiffs appealed this decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court. Litigation remains ongoing that could affect the map for the 2024 election cycle. The New Mexico Supreme Court heard oral argument on Jan. 9, 2023.

On July 5, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a decision holding that partisan gerrymandering claims are justiciable and sent the case back to the trial court for further review. Trial began on Sept. 27, 2023.

On Oct. 6 the trial court upheld New Mexico’s congressional map holding that it is not an “egregious” partisan gerrymander. The Republican petitioners appealed the decision. On Nov. 27, the New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the decision upholding the congressional map.

Last updated: November 27, 2023 4:13 pm EST