Supreme Court Sides with Republicans: Blocks Redraw of New York’s Only GOP-Held NYC Congressional District for 2026 Elections

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday granted an emergency request to pause a New York state court order requiring the redrawing of the state’s 11th Congressional District, preserving the existing map for the 2026 midterm elections.

The decision, issued over the objections of the court’s three Democratic appointees, clears the way for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) to run in her current district covering Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. The ruling provides stability for New York’s congressional elections amid ongoing redistricting disputes in multiple states.

The case stemmed from a January 21, 2026, ruling by New York State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman, who found that the existing map diluted the voting power of Black and Latino residents in violation of the New York constitution. He prohibited use of the map and directed the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission to propose a new one by February 6.

Republicans, including Malliotakis, state election officials, and voters, appealed to higher state courts and then directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the lower court’s order would force an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and disrupt elections with deadlines approaching. They warned that without intervention, candidate petitions starting February 24 would face chaos.

In a one-paragraph unsigned order late Monday, the justices granted the stay, halting the redraw for now. Justice Samuel Alito wrote a concurring opinion stating the state judge’s ruling amounted to “unadorned racial discrimination” under the U.S. Constitution.

The order allows New York to proceed with the current map, which maintains the only Republican-held congressional seat in New York City. The court requested further responses from parties and will continue considering the emergency application, but the pause effectively secures the district boundaries for the 2026 cycle.

This outcome supports fair representation and election integrity, preventing last-minute changes that could affect voter confidence and Republican prospects in a competitive midterm environment. The decision aligns with recent Supreme Court actions upholding maps in other states while emphasizing constitutional limits on race-based districting.