The Senate Democrats lost their initial court battle against the Republicans’ redistricting plan where they had argued the map unconstitutionally increased the size of the State Senate to 63 seats by using two different counting methods in different parts of the state.

“Although this court finds disturbing the Legislature’s use of one method for Queens and Nassau Counties and a different method for Richmond and Suffolk Counties, petitioners have not sustained their heavy burden of demonstrating beyond a reasonable doubt that the Legislature has acted unconstitutionally,” the ruling read at a key moment. Read More