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By Kanishka Singh<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) – A New York judge ruled on Wednesday that Republican \u200bU.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis’ district – New York City’s \u200conly Republican-held congressional district – violates the state’s constitution and should be \u200credrawn by February 6.<\/p>\n
Republicans are expected to appeal the decision by New York state Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman, who concluded in the order that the \u2060Staten Island-based 11th \u200cDistrict had diluted Latino and Black voting power.<\/p>\n
New York’s independent redistricting commission should redraw \u200dNew York’s congressional map by February 6, according to the order. A lawsuit filed last year had argued that the \u200bdistrict disenfranchised Black and Latino voters.<\/p>\n
Pearlman’s order declaring \u200cthe district configuration unconstitutional cited provisions in New York’s state constitution that bar the denial or abridgement of minority voting rights.<\/p>\n
There is a nationwide battle over redistricting between Republicans and Democrats ahead of the \u2060November 2026 midterm elections, when control \u200bof the U.S. Congress will \u200bbe at stake.<\/p>\n
Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both chambers of Congress.<\/p>\n
Ceding control of \u200deither the House \u2060of Representatives or Senate to the Democrats in the elections would endanger President Donald Trump’s legislative \u2060agenda and open the door to Democratic-led congressional investigations targeting \u200cthe Republican leader.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; \u200cEditing by Jamie Freed)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n