(NewsNation) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state will be redrawing state district lines as soon as possible and said “the gloves are off” in a national fight over redistricting.
“Here in New York, we will not stand on the sidelines with timid souls,” Hochul, a Democrat, said. “This is a war; we are at war.”
New York is one of the states hosting Democrats who have fled Texas to prevent the Texas state House from passing a redrawn district map that would give Republicans a larger majority.
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The Texas effort has been led by the White House and could make it harder for Democrats to try to retake the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.
Blue states, including New York and Illinois, are threatening to redraw their maps in response if Republican-led states continue to change maps to hold on to power.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened the lawmakers with removal from the state House and arrest, demanding they return so the legislature has a quorum needed to do business.
Hochul said the redistricting is because Republicans realize that Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration, the economy and cuts to Medicaid and know they’re facing a possible defeat at the polls.
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“Americans don’t want a system that’s stacked against them. They believe in fairness, it’s fundamental,” she said. “I’ll tell you this, they’re done with the chaos, they’re done with the cruelty, and I would say they’re ready to vote Republicans out of power in Washington, certainly in the upcoming 2026 elections.”
Hochul went on to call the effort a “legal insurrection” and vowed to fight fire with fire.
