New York Democrats urge Supreme Court to stay out of redistricting case [View all]

Source: Roll Call

Posted February 19, 2026 at 5:05pm


Democratic New York officials and voters urged the Supreme Court in court filings Thursday not to intervene in a state court order requiring a new district for the Staten Island-based seat currently held by Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

The filings came in response to emergency appeals from Malliotakis and state officials last week, seeking to put the redistricting effort on hold. Malliotakis and other Republicans argued that the court ruling came too late, with just days before candidates start circulating nominating petitions on Feb. 24.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with Attorney General Letitia James, filed a brief urging the justices not to get involved in the ongoing state court case. Hochul’s brief argued that the justices should let the dispute play out in state court, which is best able to handle state election law disputes.

The brief argued that “there is sufficient time for New York’s appellate courts to resolve applicants’ appeals on the merits while addressing any such upcoming state-law election-calendar dates. And it is New York courts, not federal courts, that should decide how to balance competing interests in minimizing disruptions to state-law election-calendar dates and in ensuring that the State’s election district map is lawful.”

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2026/02/19/new-york-democrats-urge-supreme-court-to-stay-out-of-redistricting-case/