A New York state judge has declared Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)’s congressional district unconstitutional and mandated the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission to create a revised map by February 6 for use ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

New York’s 11th Congressional District encompasses Staten Island and a small portion of Brooklyn. Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ordered the commission to finalize the new map within the deadline, citing that current district lines unlawfully diluted the voting power of Black and Latino residents in Staten Island.

The plaintiffs—voters from Staten Island and Lower Manhattan who argue they have been disenfranchised under the existing map—are represented by Marc Elias, a lawyer who has championed election and redistricting cases for Democrats across the nation. The NAACP New York State Conference also joined the lawsuit. Chris Alexander, the organization’s executive director, described the ruling as a victory for fair representation: “This decision affirms what the New York Constitution requires: district lines cannot be drawn in a way that locks communities out of political power.”

Malliotakis, who is New York City’s sole Republican U.S. House representative, has defended the current map by asserting it was created through a prescribed process and subject to multiple legal reviews. In a statement, she said her office is reviewing the judge’s decision but emphasized that “this is a frivolous attempt by Washington Democrats to steal this congressional seat from the people.” She vowed to pursue all legal avenues, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, to protect voters in Staten Island and Brooklyn.

The current district, which includes Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, handily supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. A revised map could potentially benefit Democrats in the House, though it must ultimately be approved by the Democratic-controlled state legislature.

Aria Branch, a partner at Elias Law Group, praised the ruling: “The court correctly recognized that current district lines have systematically diluted the votes of Black and Latino Staten Islanders, despite decades of demographic growth.” New York GOP chair Ed Cox criticized the decision as “partisan,” citing Pearlman’s prior work with Democratic leaders.