Source: Politics<\/p>\n
With help from Amira McKee<\/p>\n
MUTUALLY ASSURED REDISTRICTING: The multi-front, tit-for-tat gerrymandering war is putting New York Republicans in a perilous position, and they\u2019re acting quickly to condemn Hochul \u2014 and even buck President Donald Trump \u2014 to avoid becoming casualties as Dems seek retaliatory redistricting.<\/p>\n
After President Donald Trump pressed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to redraw his state\u2019s congressional maps in a way that would add five GOP seats, Hochul responded with a pledge to \u201cfight fire with fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
New York\u2019s Republican Reps. Mike Lawler, Elise Stefanik, Nicole Malliotakis and Nick LaLota don\u2019t want to become collateral damage. To that end, some are even willing to blast Trump\u2019s efforts in Texas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat Texas is doing is wrong and I\u2019m opposed to it,\u201d Lawler texted Playbook, noting that he\u2019s sponsoring a bill with fellow blue state Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley of California that would ban gerrymandering nationwide.<\/p>\n
Malliotakis is speaking out against Texas\u2019 redistricting efforts too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI may differ in opinion from many of my colleagues on this, particularly the ones from Texas,\u201d she told The Joe Piscopo Show on Monday. \u201cI\u2019m not somebody who\u2019s supportive of any type of gerrymandering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their efforts come as Hochul continues to burn away any pretense that New York\u2019s redistricting process should be independent.<\/p>\n
\u201cUp until now, Democrats have treated our political system like it\u2019s still governed by norms, guarded by limits and rooted in fairness,\u201d Hochul wrote in an op-ed published today in the Houston Chronicle. \u201cRules were meant to be followed. It hurts to say it, but that era has come to an end.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Monday, as Hochul hosted Texas lawmakers fleeing their state to prevent passage of redistricting legislation, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told New York\u2019s Republicans to pipe up.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps the Republican members of Congress here in New York could say to their Republican colleagues in Texas, \u2018Hey, slow down on this, because this can also affect us,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But the Republicans speaking out about what\u2019s going on deep in the heart of Texas still won\u2019t forget Dems\u2019 redistricting past at home.<\/p>\n
New York Democrats tried to redraw district lines in their favor long before Trump told Texas to make changes of its own. In 2021, voters rejected<\/a> a Democrat-led ballot referendum to weaken the independence of the state\u2019s redistricting process. The next year, the courts blocked their attempts to redraw the maps<\/a> in a way that would favor Democrats.<\/p>\n \u201cNew York Dems have been trying to gerrymander and rig the elections for years, well before what Texas is doing,\u201d Lawler said. \u201cThey are not doing this in response, they are using this as cover to justify what they have wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Lawler said he\u2019s still working on the specifics of his federal anti-gerrymandering bill.<\/p>\n Stefanik \u2014 who\u2019s considering a gubernatorial run against Hochul \u2014 said she would work to prevent mid-decade redistricting in New York if elected governor. But she went silent when Playbook asked her if she\u2019s against mid-decade redistricting in Texas.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Governor, Congresswoman Stefanik would support the NY State Constitution that is explicit with once a decade redistricting and the will of the voters of NY that voted for the independent bipartisan commission,\u201d her spokesperson Alex DeGrasse said in a statement. \u201cCongresswoman Stefanik successfully led the effort to protect the integrity of NY elections and fair district lines while Kathy Hochul tried twice to illegally gerrymander and suppress the will of New York voters.\u201d<\/p>\n Hochul spokesperson Jen Goodman responded to New York\u2019s GOP members.<\/p>\n \u201cIf New York House Republicans are serious about protecting democracy, they should direct their outrage at Donald Trump and their colleagues in Texas trying to dismantle it,\u201d she said. \u201cUntil Texas stands down, Governor Hochul will continue exploring every available option to fight fire with fire and ensure New York voters are not silenced.\u201d\u2014 Jason Beeferman<\/p>\n A FEDERAL SUIT AGAINST EVEN-YEAR ELECTIONS: Republicans are planning to file a federal lawsuit challenging New York\u2019s new law moving most local elections to even-numbered years.<\/p>\n The suit is in the works as the state Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments in September in a series of state-level cases brought over the 2023 law<\/a>, which rescheduled town and county races. A mid-level appellate court concluded in May that the law doesn\u2019t run afoul of the state constitution, despite challenges from eight GOP county executives.<\/p>\n Arguments in the forthcoming federal lawsuit were previewed in an amicus brief filed today in the state\u2019s top court on behalf of the town of Riverhead and Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip. They\u2019re saying the state law runs afoul of the U.S. Constitution.<\/p>\n \u201cThe primary purpose of the First Amendment is not to increase raw participation numbers, but rather to protect the public dialogue and debate that sits at the very heart of our democracy. When local elections are consolidated with federal and statewide contests, local candidates are pushed to the margins of the \u2018public square,\u2019\u201d according to the brief, a copy of which was obtained by Playbook.<\/p>\n \u201cThe First Amendment doesn\u2019t stop at the steps of the state capital,\u201d said William A. Brewer III, the counsel representing Riverhead and Pilip. \u201cOur clients contend that in their communities, democracy will be drowned out \u2014 not by censorship, but by unnecessary burdens to local speech.\u201d<\/p>\n State Sen. James Skoufis, who sponsored the now-on-the-books bill to reschedule elections, said the suit is evidence local officials like Pilip are \u201cafraid of more voters participating in their elections.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is desperate and pathetic,\u201d Skoufis said. \u201cIt is obviously constitutional \u2014 there are other states that have done it, there are other jurisdictions that have done it. It unequivocally and dramatically increases voter turnout. So it\u2019s laughable on its face that anyone thinks this isn\u2019t going to be completely thrown out of a courtroom.\u201d \u2014 Bill Mahoney<\/p>\n BOOK OF JOB APPROVAL: Mayor Eric Adams held a rally on the steps of City Hall today with a pan-city collection of faith leaders backing his run. The incumbent, who is limping along<\/a> in the polls and facing high disapproval ratings from voters, used the opportunity to highlight his accomplishments and re-air his longstanding grievances with the press.<\/p>\n Adams, who repeatedly criticized Andrew Cuomo for avoiding the media during the Democratic primary, began the event with a warning: He would not be taking questions.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter I speak, I\u2019m bouncing,\u201d Adams said. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to tarnish the good news of today.\u201d<\/p>\n He closed his remarks by asking God for a \u201cspecial prayer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLay hands on our media,\u201d he said. \u201cHeal them. Put honesty in their hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n Adams has taken umbrage at coverage of his since-dismissed federal bribery case, allegations of a quid pro quo with President Donald Trump and corruption probes that hollowed out his inner circle.<\/p>\n As he left, reporters peppered him with queries anyway, prompting the mayor to clap and chant \u201cask me the good news questions\u201d as he and his retinue disappeared into City Hall. \u2014 Joe Anuta<\/p>\n RESOLUTION TO BACK THE BLUE: Stefanik introduced a resolution today<\/a> to condemn the mass shooting last week<\/a> in midtown Manhattan, where five were killed including an off-duty NYPD officer.<\/p>\n The measure also condemns \u201cdivisive rhetoric and violence against federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and urges lawmakers to redouble their commitment to backing the blue.\u201d<\/p>\n The North Country Republican said in a statement that \u201canti-police policies should have no place in our great state.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, on Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Rep. Andrew Garbarino, both Republicans, sought to emphasize the importance of training and collaboration among local, state and federal law enforcement officials. They toured the Nassau County Police Department\u2019s intelligence center and police training village.<\/p>\n Garbarino, the new chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, said his focus will be counterterrorism, including in neighboring New York City.<\/p>\n \u201cNew York is the greatest city, it\u2019s also the one that\u2019s most top targeted and we have to protect it,\u201d the House member said.<\/p>\n Stefanik and Blakeman, potential candidates for governor next year who are close allies of President Donald Trump, have slammed Democrats for policies and rhetoric they say is dangerous for law enforcement officials. But they did not reference their political affiliation in their remarks today. \u2014 Emily Ngo<\/p>\n \u2014 MAMDANI DRAWS JEWISH VOTERS: Zohran Mamdani appealed to Jewish New Yorkers who were drawn to his affordability-focused platform and unbothered by or supportive of his views on Israel and Gaza. (The New York Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n \u2014 CUOMO RECALIBRATES: Andrew Cuomo\u2019s revamped campaign is shifting away from his historically vehement defense of Israel. (Bloomberg<\/a>)<\/p>\n \u2014 ICE CRACKDOWN: Most immigrants arrested in New York City since the Trump administration ramped up its stringent border policies do not have criminal charges or convictions. (The New York Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n Missed this morning\u2019s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n