“This Is War”: New York Governor Vows Map Overhaul After Texas GOP Redistricting Push

New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to push for new congressional maps in her state to counter the effect of Texas Republicans who are working to redraw districts in their favor. 

Speaking at the state Capitol in Albany, alongside several Texas Democrats who fled their state to block a vote on redistricting, Hochul said she would not sit back while Republicans tilt the political playing field.

“You won’t fight for democracy, you’re doomed to lose it,” Hochul said. “If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they’re leaving us no choice: We must do the same.”

New York governor pushes plans for new congressional maps, countering Texas’ Republican efforts

Image credits: Governor Kathy Hochul/Flickr

Hochul called the fight over redistricting a battle. “This is a war. We are at war. And that’s why the gloves are off and I say, ‘Bring it on,’” she said.  

Hochul said she is exploring every legal option to redraw New York’s congressional lines and that state Democratic leaders are “on board.” 

Her comments mark a major shift from past positions, especially the 2014 ballot measure that ruled that the redistricting process should be carried out by a commission composed of appointees from both political parties. 

Hochul now says the state should abandon that system to level the playing field with Republicans. “Saving democracy is my top priority at any cost,” she said.

New York currently has 19 Democrats and seven Republicans in its U.S. House delegation. 

Giving the legislature greater control over map‑drawing could allow Democrats to add more safely blue districts and protect their edge in the House. 

To do that, lawmakers would need to amend the state constitution, a process that requires approval by two consecutive legislative sessions and a statewide vote. 

The earliest that could take effect is 2027, potentially impacting the 2028 elections.

Hochul’s announcement came as Texas remains locked in a high‑stakes showdown over redistricting. 

Texas Republicans, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, introduced a plan that would create five new Republican‑leaning congressional districts. 

That would expand their majority of 25 out of 38 House seats and help shore up the GOP’s narrow control of the U.S. House.

Texas lawmakers introduced a plan to create five new Republican-leaning congressional districts

Since two-thirds of the 150-member state legislature needs to be present to hold a vote for the proposed redistricting, fifty-one Democratic lawmakers have fled the state.

They have left for Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to prevent the legislature from reaching the quorum required. 

In response, the Texas House voted to issue civil arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers. 

Governor Greg Abbott ordered state troopers to find and return them to Austin, threatening to have them removed from office. 

“This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol,” Abbott said.

Image credits: Sara Diggins/Getty Images

Texas Democrats dismissed Abbott’s threats as political theater. “He’s making up some s**t, OK? He’s trying to get soundbites and he has no legal mechanism,” said Texas Representative Jolanda Jones, one of the lawmakers who left for New York.

“Subpoenas from Texas don’t work in New York, so he’s going to come and get us how,” she added.

Legal experts said that because the Democrats are out of state, Texas law enforcement has no authority to arrest them without the cooperation of local officials in the states where they are staying.

“That’s why in this case and in previous recent quorum breaks, they have left the state to escape the jurisdiction of the marshals and other arresting officers in the state,” Sarah Chen, a voting rights attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, told CNN.

51 Democratic lawmakers fled the state to prevent the legislation from reaching the required quorum 

Image credits: Governor Kathy Hochul/Flickr

“We’re not walking out on our responsibilities,” said Gene Wu, state legislator and chairman of the Democratic Caucus. “We’re walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent.”

Hochul said Texas Republicans’ actions are behind her decision to push for partisan map‑drawing in New York. “To subvert the will of the people, they’re hellbent on rigging the system. Rigging the system is un-American. Congressional districts are never drawn mid-decade,” she said.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie agreed with Hochul. “In politics, there’s no such thing as non-partisan,” Heastie said. 

“It’s difficult to ask New York, California and other Democratic-leaning states to play non-partisan while Republicans play very partisan,” he added.

However, the Reinvent Albany group condemned Hochul’s proposal. “The idea that New York is competing with Texas to see who can disenfranchise the most voters is repugnant to us,” said John Kaehny, executive director of the group.  

As the standoff in Texas drags on, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to do “everything in [his] power” to force Democrats back to Austin. 

But Democrats say they are prepared to stay away as long as it takes. 

“If law enforcement arrests me, I will go peacefully,” said Texas Representative James Talarico. “But I am doing this because I’m fighting for my constituents.”