Rep. Tom Suozzi recently voiced his disapproval of fellow Democrats’ efforts to accelerate the redistricting process in New York, aiming to bolster their chances in the 2028 elections. Suozzi’s stance highlights a growing divide within the party on this contentious issue.
During an interview with CNN anchor Abby Phillip, Suozzi made his position clear. “I’m opposed to all gerrymandering. I’ve always been opposed to gerrymandering,” he asserted. His comments came in response to a proposal by New York Democrat lawmakers, which is supported by Governor Kathy Hochul, to introduce a constitutional amendment next year. This amendment would allow for the redrawing of congressional districts ahead of the 2028 elections.
The push for redistricting is gaining momentum, with Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic minority leader, advocating for the changes. As he stands poised to become the next speaker if Democrats regain control of Congress, Jeffries has urged New York state lawmakers to act before 2030.
Suozzi’s remarks did not sit well with some Democrats in both New York and Washington, DC. According to a party insider who spoke with The Post, there is a palpable frustration with Suozzi’s dissent. “Suozzi is the only Democrat in New York not standing with Hakeem Jeffries and Kathy Hochul,” an anonymous Empire State Democratic official lamented, indicating the isolation of his stance within the party.
“Suozzi is the only Democrat in New York not standing with Hakeem Jeffries and Kathy Hochul,” fumed an Empire State Democratic official who requested anonymity.
“Democrats see this effort as the front line to ave the integrity of the democratic process. To save our democracy.”
This action counters President Trump’s and the Republicans’ initial moves to redraw House maps in red states for partisan advantage, aiming to help the GOP keep the majority during the 2026 midterm elections.
Democrats have responded in kind, attempting to redraw House maps under their control in what has become an all-out war.
Jeffries himself has called the redistricting fight “maximum warfare” and that the Democrats weren’t going to unilaterally disarm and cede ground to Trump and the GOP.
Redrawing congressional maps purely to benefit one political party is called gerrymandering. It involves drawing irregularly shaped districts to “pack” opposing voters into a few districts or spreading them across many, reducing their overall voting power.
But Suozzi said both parties are wrong.
“Conservative, liberal, moderate, let’s all agree this is wrong,” Suozzi said. “It’s awful on both sides.”
“We should have independent redistricting. We should allow independents to vote. We should have open primaries,” Suozzi said, which allow non-party members to vote in primary elections.
Told that Trump and GOP-run Texas instigated the redistricting war, Suozzi said, “There’s going to be this tit for tat. `They’ll do this, and we’ll do that.’ It’s bad for America.”
But a Democratic Party insider told the Post that Suozzi requested the last redistricting include more Democratic voters in his swing district.
Suozzi clarified and partly walked back his comments he made on CNN when contacted by The Post.
“Congressman Suozzi has long opposed partisan gerrymandering because it fuels division and weakens representative democracy,” said Suozzi campaign senior advisor Kim Devlin.
“At the same time, he recognizes that Republicans across the country have aggressively manipulated district maps for partisan gain, undermining fairness in the electoral process. Democrats are right to fight fire with fire in the short term, but our ultimate goal must be to undo all partisan gerrymandering,” the Suozzi rep added.
A recent Supreme Court ruling striking down a Black-majority district in Louisiana has intensified the House redistricting battles.
The landmark ruling stated that Louisiana had unconstitutionally gerrymandered by race to form a new voting district, setting a new precedent.
Democrats complained the decision weakens the Voting Rights Act of 1965 approved to prohibit discrimination in voting.