A delayed look at redistricting: who's in and who's still out

Final Congressional District Lines

                                                                      

New York's special master for redistricting released his final maps in the early hours of Saturday morning, leaving analysis of the confusing lines to truly dedicated political pundits and leaders.

But instead of just tweaks to the first maps, the final versions look much different from the districts first proposed.

Suffolk's Congressional districts, for example, went from two north-south districts in the proposed map to two mostly east-west districts in the final version -- which likely helps the re-election chances of Republican incumbent, U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino of Sayville.

In Nassau , District 4, being vacated by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice of Garden City, looks pretty much the same.  But it still excludes Westbury, which means that Nassau Legis. Siela Bynoe, a Westbury Democrat who announced her bid for the Democratic nomination for the seat while the original lines were still in effect, is no longer in District 4.

Bynoe, who is now in District 3, can still run for the 4th District seat, because of liberal residency rules for members of the U.S. Congress. But it's difficult to run out of district without having the advantages of an incumbent's name recognition and fundraising abilities.

On the other hand, Nassau Legis. Joshua Lafazan, a Woodbury Democrat seeking the Democratic nomination in the 3rd District, is back in. The special master first cut Lafazan out of the district, being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) when eliminating ridiculous "around the sound" lines adopted by the Democratic-controlled state legislature.

But it looks like Woodbury is back in. Lafazan had already said he would run in 3 even when he was redistricted out of it.

Bynoe hasn't said if she is still running or for what Congressional seat. But she put out a statement today eviscerating a Proud Boys parade in Rockville Centre and "their white nationalist neofascist rhetoric."

"Now more than ever it is crucial for people of good conscience to stand together to reject their racist, misogynistic, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ bigotry and send a clear message that hate has no place in Rockville Centre, Nassau County or anywhere else in the nation," she said.

Only a sliver of Rockville Centre is in Bynoe's legislative district but it is fully within the 4th Congressional District.

Bynoe, who is not up for county re-election this year, probably would say the same thing no matter where the Proud Boys paraded. But  Democrats in New York and nationally appear to be making hate crimes and white racism main issues in this year's election.

The final State Senate district lines also differ from the special master's draft map.

                                                                        

Final State Senate districts

District 5, for example, was first going to run up to Nassau's North Shore and include heavily Republican areas of Oyster Bay Town.

State Sen. Kevin Thomas a Levittown Democrat who now represents District 6, wound up in District 5 in the proposed version, making his re-election chances less likely.

District 5 was redrawn from mid Nassau to the South Shore but still includes Thomas. Still, according to Newsday, Thomas says he will run for District 6, which also ranges from mid-Nassau to the South Shore.

Because this is a redistricting year, Thomas can run for a district he no longer lives in. But according to state law, he will have to move into District 6 within  a year if he wins.

State Sen. James Gaughran (D-Northport) now represents District 5, which had included portions of Suffolk. But now Gaughran lives in District 2, and, according to Newsday, is running in District 2.

State Sen. John Brooks (D-Seaford) was redistricted out of District 8, and is now in District 5. Newsday reports he will run for re-election in District 5.

The other interesting change is in District 7, now represented by Democratic incumbent State Sen. Anna Kaplan of Great Neck. The final District 7 runs all the way across northern Nassau from Queens through North Hempstead to the Suffolk line. It loses Westbury but picks up Glen Cove, Brookville and Lattingtown. 

The special master says the final 7th District voted for Democrat Joe Biden by 56.1 percent in 2020, but that Democratic advantage is doubtful today. Glen Cove voted Republican last  November and so did Great Neck and North Hempstead.