Utica/Rome split in new district maps as Rep. Tenney opts out of Central New York By Luke Perry and Jordan Conestabile
The New York State Legislature recently approved its new redistricting plan. The new House map was tasked with reducing the number of districts from 27 to 26. Oneida County now faces a split causing a change in representation throughout the Utica/Rome area.
New York found itself within a national gerrymandering battle. Republicans have complete control over redistricting in 18 states. New York is one of just a few Democratic-controlled state having to redistrict.
A newly formed redistricting commission failed to agree on a final proposal. This enabled the legislature to assume full responsibility. Democrats are in full control thanks to their current supermajority in the Assembly and Senate.
The legislature’s plan divided up the current boundaries of NY-22 into several surrounding districts. Large parts of Oneida County will now be in the 21st district, represented by Elise Stefanik (R), including Rome. The 19th district, including much of Utica, will now be represented by Antonio Delgado (D).
Incumbent NY-22 Rep. Claudia Tenney was left with her hometown of New Hartford in the 19th district. Preliminary indications suggest this district will be much more Democratic than the existing NY-22, where registered Republicans have consistently outnumbered Democrats by about 30,000.
Photo from House of Representatives
Tenney immediately declared her candidacy in NY-23, whose boundaries will stretch from the Southern tier to Western New York. Incumbent NY-27 Rep. Chris Jacobs similarly declared his candidacy in NY-24, who boundaries stretch from Buffalo to Watertown, yet do not contain his current residency. New York House representatives are required to be state residents, but not live in the district they represent.
The quick declarations by Tenney and Jacobs reflect how Republican incumbents are engaging the remade political landscape even as the GOP filed suit in opposition to the new boundaries. In upstate New York, taking hold in one the three Republican super districts (NY-21, 23, or 24) seems the most likely path to remain in office, perhaps even for the next eight years, given the strong Republican edge in these districts, along with the power of incumbency advantage. Pending final approval, the new lines will go into effect beginning with the June 28th primary and remain in place through at least 2030.
Luke Perry is Professor of Political Science at Utica College
Jordan Conestabile is a Political Science student at Utica College
