A majority of New Yorkers perceive a proposed constitutional amendment to redraw the state's congressional maps as detrimental to the Empire State, according to a recent Siena University poll. The survey found that only 21% of residents believe the redistricting initiative, supported by Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, would be "good for New York."
Overall, 44% of voters polled stated the proposed 2027 redistricting amendment would be bad for the state, while 21% expressed a neutral stance. Even within the Democratic party, support for the measure appears limited, with only 26% of Democrats believing their party's elected officials in Albany should be permitted to draw the districts. A more substantial 38% of Democrats confessed that the effort would be bad for the state, and 21% remained undecided.
The proposal aims to dismantle the bipartisan panel established by a constitutional amendment in 2014. Republicans, who currently hold seven of New York's 26 House seats, are predominantly opposed, with 54% of surveyed conservatives deeming the amendment harmful. Independent voters also leaned against the measure, with nearly half (47%) viewing it as bad for New York, and only 14% believing it to be a positive development.
"There is partisan agreement in opposition to the amendment, which received first passage by the Legislature earlier this month," Siena Poll spokesperson Steve Greenberg stated. He added, "While these results will make Republican leaders happy, it shows that Democratic leaders have a lot of work to do between now and Election Day 2027 if they want to see this amendment approved by voters."
New York Republican Committee spokesperson David Laska criticized the push, asserting, "This poll proves that New Yorkers are too smart to buy into Democrats' nonsense about 'saving democracy.' They know this is about one thing and one thing only — power. Republicans have stopped Democrats every time they have tried to rig our maps. We will stop them again."
This sentiment contrasts with the views expressed by some Democratic leaders. Representative Joe Morelle, who has supported the effort, previously stated, "I think the voters understand that this is now a, in some ways, an existential threat to the Republic."