WFP calls on Ken Jenkins to recuse himself from redistricting commission

The New York Working Families Party has called on Ken Jenkins, the chair of the state Independent Redistricting Commission, to recuse himself from the commission. Jenkins also works as deputy Westchester County Executive, and his boss – Westchester County Executive George Latimer – announced last week that he would run in the Democratic primary for the 16th Congressional District. Latimer is challenging incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who’s already been endorsed for reelection by the WFP and other progressive groups.

While some raised eyebrows at the connection before, Bowman supporters have grown even more skeptical after the New York Court of Appeals ruled today that the Independent Redistricting Commission would need to draw new maps before the 2024 elections. With the Commission headed back to work, Jenkins will help draw lines that his immediate superior will run in.

“George Latimer has suggested that his chances of winning depend on having fewer Black and brown voters in his district,” WFP spokesperson Ravi Mangla told City & State. “He’s also said he and Jenkins have spoken about redistricting on multiple occasions. There’s nothing fair about that.” 

Justice Democrats, a political action committee that helped Bowman get elected and supports his reelection, also called on Jenkins to step down. “There can be no fair maps for #NY16 until Jenkins steps down,” Justice Democrats wrote on X.

Currently, the 16th Congressional District stretches from the northern Bronx into Westchester. Latimer previously told City & State that if the district were redrawn to include more areas of the Bronx and fewer areas of Westchester, he’s “not gonna win that race.” 

In the same interview, Latimer insisted that he does not discuss redistricting with Jenkins. “He doesn't report to me on that issue, and I have been scrupulous about not having detailed conversations with him. I can tell you right now – threat of a bolt from the sky to strike me dead – Ken is his own man when it comes to these things,” he said. But Latimer later told Gothamist that he and Jenkins have spoken about redistricting “a couple times.”

Latimer declined to comment on whether Jenkins should recuse himself. Jenkins could not immediately be reached for comment, but he told USA Today Network last week that he was only one of ten votes on the commission and the Legislature had the final say on any maps.

Albany Law School professor Vin Bonventre told City & State that he is not aware of any laws or regulations that would prevent Jenkins from serving as chair of the Independent Redistricting Commission as a result of his connection to Latimer, though he acknowledged that the optics weren’t great. “Can reasonable people doubt impartiality? Yeah, of course,” he said.