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Sunday, February 25, 2024

Democratic Rural Conference Statement on New IRC-proposed Congressional Districts

As set out in the Constitution of New York State, new congressional districts should not be drawn to divide communities of interest, to prioritize the security of incumbents, or to concentrate voters of each party into exclusive enclaves. Unfortunately, the lines adopted by the Independent Redistricting Commission on February 15 have the effect of doing exactly those things in most districts.

These proposed lines will result once again in huge, uncompetitive congressional districts across much of upstate that promote extremism and leave members of the smaller party with representatives completely unsympathetic to their concerns. Even those of the majority party end up represented by someone who may have to travel 4 hours or more just to visit their communities, as exclusively rural districts must cover 14 and 15 counties to amass enough population. Regrettably, counties are often fragmented into separate districts, as well.

The proposed districts seem designed to avoid competitive elections, which does a disservice to us all. We, the Officers and Board Members of the Democratic Rural Conference of New York State, urge the Legislature to reject the maps submitted by the Independent Redistricting Commission.

The Democratic Rural Conference of New York State represents Democrats in 47 of New York’s 62 counties, those with populations smaller than 250,000 people.

OfficersBoard Members
Judith Hunter
Chair
Livingston County
Margaret Bartley
Essex County
Timothy Perfetti
Executive Vice Chair
Cortland County
Keith Batman
Cayuga County
John Hurley
Treasurer
Ontario County
Jeanne Crane
Orleans County
William Thickstun
Secretary
Oneida County
Kimberly Davis
Clinton County
Darlene Baker
Parliamentarian
Oswego County
William Hughes
Columbia County
Ronald McDougal
Northern Vice Chair
St. Lawrence County
James Mills
Putnam County
Michael Monescalchi
Catskill/Hudson Vice Chair
Rensselaer County
Michael Plitt
Genesee County
Liz Moran
Central Vice Chair
Madison County
Thomas Schimmerling
Delaware County
Cynthia Appleton
Western Vice Chair
Wyoming County
Ted Young
Seneca County