Redistricting could pave the way for congressional comebacks

New York will have new congressional maps in 2024 after the New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Democrats who argued that the lines used in the 2022 midterms should be a one-off. The state Independent Redistricting Commission has until Feb. 28 to deliver a new map to the state Legislature, and everyone’s eyes are on the result.

Throughout the state, congressional candidates were scrambling last year to figure out where they should run and who they would be running against as the district lines were hashed out in court. In the shuffle, several candidates lost their seats or lost their elections. Even those who won often found themselves in districts they weren’t entirely familiar with. 

Now that redistricting has reared its head once more, some candidates may experience an unexpected career revival. It’s all hypothetical until the new district lines are finalized early next year, but here are some of the familiar faces who might get a second shot:

Carolyn Maloney

Former Rep. Carolyn Maloney represented the 12th Congressional District for a decade until court-appointed special master Jonathan Cervas redrew the district lines, and both she and Rep. Jerry Nadler ended up in a primary together. Nadler’s old constituency, the 10th Congressional District, was redrawn to encompass lower Manhattan and brownstone Brooklyn, and Rep. Dan Goldman emerged out of a jumbled primary for the open seat.

Before redistricting, Nadler and Maloney had been close, and the race between the two eventually got nasty. Maloney in particular took issue with Nadler jumping districts in the first place. But Nadler won out in the end, keeping his seat and his perch on the powerful House Judiciary Committee.

No one is sure exactly what the lines will look like in 2024, but Maloney – who currently is the distinguished leader in residence at Hunter College’s Roosevelt House – has signaled she might make another run for Congress. “If they draw a district I could win in, of course, I'd run, ” she told NBC News New York’s Melissa Russo on Tuesday. 

Max Rose

Former Rep. Max Rose lost handily to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in 2022, but the full story is a little more complicated than that. Before the district lines were redrawn, Rose was preparing to run against Malliotakis in a district that included a larger swath of left-leaning voters than currently present. 

After court-ordered maps were redrawn, that pocket of voters was diminished and Staten Island-based Malliotakis beat Rose handily. She decried Tuesday’s decision and Democratic attempts to draw new lines as unconstitutional, but practically speaking, it puts her in a tough position. 

New lines wouldn’t necessarily mean she’s a goner, but if the Independent Redistricting Commission uses the original 2022 map as a template, the race is likely to become a toss-up.

For Rose, that could mean the third time’s the charm. But there’s a catch – a more Democratic-friendly district means a more crowded Democratic primary. Council Member Justin Brannan told City & State that he’s being encouraged to run against Malliotakis, and socialist Brittany Ramos DeBarros, who lost to Rose in the 2022 Democratic primary, is also likely to make another attempt.

Mondaire Jones

Former Rep. Mondaire Jones was a rising star in progressive politics in 2022 before redistricting got him kicked out of the Hudson Valley and into the crowded primary for Manhattan’s 10th Congressional District. 

Jones lost in the Democratic primary to Rep. Dan Goldman, while Maloney lost to Lawler in Jones’ former 17th Congressional District. Jones is now hoping to succeed where Maloney failed and turn the 17th Congressional District blue. 

Lawler beat Maloney by a close margin and a new district could mean that whatever advantages he accumulated could be undone by new lines. Jones has name recognition in the district – at least more than Maloney did – and his return has been greeted warmly. 

If he gets a boost from the Independent Redistricting Commission next year, Jones could have a launchpad to head back to Washington.

Sean Patrick Maloney

Last year, former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney managed to prevent a predicted red wave from irreparably harming chances for Democratic control of Congress. But he still lost his own seat to Rep. Mike Lawler.

The ignominious end to his time in Congress came after he decided to run in the newly-redrawn 17th Congressional District, which was seen as less conservative than the district he previously represented, the 18th Congressional District. In the process, he chose to displace rising star and former Rep. Mondaire Jones (see above), who said he wasn’t consulted about Maloney’s decision. Maloney defended his choice, telling News 12 Westchester that he chose to “run where he lives,” since his own residence had been drawn into the 17th District. 

If Maloney still has a taste for electoral politics, he has a few options. Depending on the new district boundaries, Maloney could find himself back in the 17th Congressional District challenging Jones and then Lawler. He could also return to the 18th Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Pat Ryan – who won the district by the skin of his teeth in 2022. In both cases, he would be primarying established Democrats and facing Republicans in a general election who have national support. 

That being said, Maloney helped keep Congress in striking distance for Democrats last year, so he knows a thing or two about winning elections. 

Sarah Klee Hood

Dewitt Town Council Member Sarah Klee Hood lost the 22nd Congressional District’s Democratic primary in 2022 to naval veteran Francis Conole, who went on to narrowly lose the general election to Republican Rep. Brandon Williams. But Hood is planning a new run for Congress in 2024. 

With new district lines incoming, Hood – the top fundraiser of Democrats who have filed to run against Williams – might have better odds this time around. Assuming she can make it out of the primary, Hood could find herself in a position to upset the incumbent Williams and flip a seat that has swapped party hands several times in recent cycles.