Congressman Mike Lawler has issued a statement criticizing a recent lawsuit filed by the Elias Law Group that seeks to overturn New York’s congressional maps. Lawler described the legal action as an effort to benefit the Democratic Party rather than protect minority voters.
“Let’s be clear, this lawsuit has nothing to do with protecting minority voters and everything to do with rigging our elections to support the Democrat Party. This is the third time Democrats in New York have attempted to gerrymander our maps in three years!” said Lawler.
He also accused Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of ignoring both the state constitution and an independent redistricting process established by voters. “Kathy Hochul and Hakeem Jeffries’ ongoing disregard for the will of New York’s voters, blatant disregard for our state constitution and the independent redistricting process, as well as their contempt for Independents and Republicans in New York State, is just astonishing,” he stated.
Lawler referenced a previous vote by New Yorkers supporting an independent commission intended to remove politics from drawing district lines. He claimed that Democratic leaders have repeatedly ignored this mandate through attempts at gerrymandering in 2021 and 2024, changing election laws for partisan gain, and now seeking changes through court actions.
“New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly in favor of an independent redistricting commission to take politics out of the process. But Democrats have ignored that mandate at every turn, from attempting to gerrymander our Congressional Districts in 2021 and 2024, to changing election laws for partisan advantage, to now trying to rewrite the rules again through the courts,” Lawler said.
He emphasized his opposition to partisan gerrymandering regardless of which party is responsible: “Regardless of party, I have always opposed partisan gerrymandering, whether it’s in Texas, Illinois, California, or New York, because voters, not politicians, should decide who represents them.”
“This partisan attempt to corrupt our elections must be defeated,” he concluded.
Lawler represents New York’s 17th Congressional District north of New York City. The district includes all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated as one of Congress’s most bipartisan members during his first term and recognized as its most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress.
