ALBANY – Battleground Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) ripped state Democrats as “full of s–t” Monday for trying to redraw his vulnerable district to give themselves a leg up against Republicans.
Lawler joined state GOP lawmakers in Albany as their Dem counterparts rushed to start the process of amending New York’s constitution before the scheduled end of the legislative session on Thursday.
The former state assemblyman blasted Democrats in both Albany and Washington for preaching about fair elections — all while trying to rig the electoral maps.
Getty Images“They’re full of s–t. We know they’re full of s–t,” Lawler said of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who has pledged New York’s participation in a nationwide arms race to gerrymander states’ congressional maps after an effort by Republicans in Texas last year.
“The fact is, they will do anything in their power to seize power,” Lawler charged.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has also put her full support behind the effort, which Democrats are considering a “must pass” item to do this week before lawmakers ditch Albany for the rest of the year.
“I know our legislature is prepared to work together with all of us, and a concerted effort to fight back with everything we have,” Hochul said last month, promising action on the state’s redistricting efforts.
The constitutional amendments, currently being crafted by Democratic lawmakers behind closed doors, would need to be passed by the state legislature again next year before going onto the ballot to be considered by voters in November 2027.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has supported the push by fellow Democrats in Albany to redraw the state’s congressional map. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.comThat means any changes being considered by the legislature through a constitutional amendment would not be in effect for this year’s elections, including Lawler’s.
Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), one of the pols steering redistricting efforts, in recent weeks has publicly mused about the range of constitutional changes on the table.
That could include shaking up or scrapping entirely the Independent Redistricting Commission, a bipartisan panel evenly split between Republican and Democratic appointees that’s charged with drawing congressional districts after the US Census every 10 years for approval by the state legislature.
But it might involve more radical proposals, such as removing language in the state constitution dictating that the maps “shall not be drawn to discourage competition” – effectively banning gerrymandering.
“The reason Democrats want to change it is because voters, not politicians, are deciding these elections,” Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Dutchess) said.
“The system has largely done exactly what voters intended. Republicans and Democrats have been forced to come together. Neither side gets really what they want, and neither side gets to dictate the outcome,” Slater added.
