Justice Patrick McAllister, a judge from the rural Steuben County, signed off on a new congressional map for New York, boosting Republican chances of gaining seats in the upcoming November midterms.
McAllister approved the map just before midnight on May 20. Jonathan Cervas, the court-appointed special master who drew the map, created it in such a way that there will be 15 Democrat-leaning seats, three Republican-leaning seats, and eight competitive districts where both parties have a reasonable chance to win the elections.
The New York congressional delegation is presently composed of 19 Democrats and eight Republicans. Democrats had earlier pushed forward maps drawn by the legislature it controls….