New York Congressional Redistricting Challenge
Williams et al v. Board of Elections of the State of New York et al
A pro-voting lawsuit challenging New York’s 2024 congressional map that dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino voters on Staten Island.
Background
New York voters filed a lawsuit in state court challenging New York’s 2024 congressional map that dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino Staten Islanders (CD-11). Plaintiffs assert Staten Island has a history of race discrimination that has suppressed minority voting rights for decades, and is still prevalent today. Plaintiffs argue that the map violates the state constitution’s prohibition against racial vote dilution and the New York Voting Rights Act’s protection of coalition and minority influence districts. The lawsuit seeks a new minority influence district joining Staten Island with voters in lower Manhattan.
Why It Matters
Black and Latino populations now account for 30% of Staten Island’s population, yet demographic changes have not been accounted for, resulting in only marginal success for Black and Latino candidates in Staten Island elections. Protecting Black and Latino voters from vote dilution is a critical safeguard to counteracting President Donald Trump’s nationwide redistricting war intended to secure maximum GOP advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.
Latest updates
- Nov. 7, 2025: The court granted Congresswoman Malliotakis (CD-11) and individual voters’ motion to intervene as defendants. The court will hold a hearing on Jan. 6-7 on the petition and defendants forthcoming motions to dismiss.
- Oct. 31, 2025: New York Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R) and individual voters filed a motion to intervene as defendants to preserve the current boundaries of CD-11.
- Oct. 27, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their petition.