The court-appointed special master finally released what appears to be the settled lines for senatorial and congressional districts after taking in criticism from his initial draft. The new district lines particularly shake up congressional races in Manhattan, with powerful Democratic congress members grouped together into what will amount to costly and unpredictable primaries. The lines also give Republicans a possibility of taking seven of Long Island’s nine senatorial seats, upping the current position of four seats.
Overall, the lines represent a simplification of what was once a series of elongated and reaching lines, grouping together blocks of people for whatever political advantage it presented at the time for whatever party wrote them. The new lines produce more swing districts than before to the ire of Democrats hoping that New York could be utilized to keep the house in their favor.
Senate District 1
The First Senate District, currently held by Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), lost the southeastern portion of Brookhaven. The area of the Brookhaven National Laboratory down to the Poospatuck reserve and Eastport was ceded to the Third District. The district took in the northwestern portion of the town of Brookhaven, adding the villages of Old Field and Poquot, as well as some of the territories to the south up until Nesconset Highway and Old Nichols Road.
The First District now leans slightly more to the left with the addition of affluent villages and Stony Brook University. The change isn’t overwhelming enough to make victory impossible for the incumbent, but it might change the priorities of Palumbo. With the concentration of Republicans now in the Northshore, Northshore priorities might take increased import for the senator. Considering how storm responses differ from north to south and voter composition through the district.
Senate District 2
The Second District saw its reaching appendages cut off by the special master. The district, which once utilized the red bastion of Smithtown to absorb blue communities in Little Plains and Lower Melville, now just comprises the townships of Huntington and Smithtown.
The new boundaries place two incumbents, Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and Senator James Gaughran (D-Northport), in a race against each other if Gaughran decides to seek re-election.
Senate District 3
Drawing from the territory of three senatorial districts, the Third District is largely bounded by Hawkings Road, Patchogue -Mt. Sinai Road, Pine Road, and Whiskey Road, along with the western and southern edge of Riverhead in the north. To the east, the district rests against the town boundary of Southampton. To the west, the district is bound by Smithtown and Islip, with some election districts in Islip being in the Third District.
The Third is currently held by Alexis Weik (R-Sayville); however, with Sayville in the new Eighth District, Weik will not run for reelection in the third.
Former Assemblyman Dean Murray announced his candidacy for the district on the Republican side. For the Democrats, there will be a confirmed candidate by next week, according to the Board of Elections.
Senate District 4
The Fourth District comprises northern Babylon and northwestern Islip. The safe blue seat keeps the communities of stretches from North Amityville in the southwest to Central Islip in the northeast. The district will become a so-called majority-minority district, with Hispanics forming the plurality of the district, comprising 43% of the district.
Weik will be seeking election in The Eighth since Senator Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore) previously announced his retirement after a previous version of the maps created the potential for a primary between him and Weik.
According to a spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Islip, the democratic candidate for this district will be announced soon.
Senate District 8 The remainder of the townships of Islip and Babylon is in the Eighth Senate District. The district also crosses over slightly into the Massapequa Park area in Nassau County. According to a spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Islip, the democratic candidate for this district will be announced soon.
Congressional District 1
The new First Congressional District is similar to the current district, except it is much more North Shore based. The district includes the townships of Huntington, Smithtown, Riverhead, Shelter Island, East Hampton, and Southampton, as well as the northern portion of Brookhaven.
Republican candidate Nicholas LaLota has confirmed that he will continue his bid for election in the First. He is facing a primary challenge from Anthony Figliola and Cait Corrigan, according to Federal Elections Commission filings and campaign literature.
Democratic Candidate Kara Hahn (D-Port Jefferson) announced that she would be ending her campaign and now backs Bridgett Fleming (D- Noyac) of Southampton for the position. Fellow Democrat Jackie Gordon has decided to run for the Second District.
Congressional District 2
The remainder of Brookhaven, as well as the townships of Islip Babylon and the southernmost portion of Oyster Bay, make up the district.
Incumbent Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville) is facing a primary challenge from perennial GOP pariah Robert Cornicelli.
Jackie Gordon appears to have joined a democratic primary with William Hoist and Mike Sax; however, her campaign appears to now be the best equipped.
Congressional District 3
The Third Congressional District is no longer touching Suffolk County. The briefly so-called Long Island Sound District that once stretched from Nissequogue to Rye is now a Nassau County and Queens District.
Barring any successful legal challenges, these districts (both congressional and senatorial) will stand until the next redistricting in 2030.
