New York appeals court says Democrats gerrymandered congressional districts

The divided five-judge panel upheld a key part of a ruling by a lower court that the districts – which were drawn in such a way that the state would have only four Republican-dominated Congressional districts instead of the current eight – were deliberately constructed to favor one party over another. Many Democrats had hoped that the newly drawn New York districts would lead to the election of more members of their party in the U.S. Congressional elections set for November, offsetting anticipated losses in Texas and other states. Republicans are aiming to take control in November of the U.S. House of Representatives, which is now only narrowly controlled by Democrats.