Washington Post: New York’s redistricting tests Democratic opposition to gerrymandering

For decades, Democrats have claimed the high road when it comes to redrawing district lines for lawmakers, delivering earnest criticisms and arguing in court that their Republican opponents have operated unethically to maximize their power across a broad range of states.

Now, with their control of the U.S. House measured in a handful of seats, Democrats face a quandary: Make good on their rhetoric or seek to shore up their chance of staying in the majority by doing what they have long criticized Republicans for doing. …

In 2014, voters approved a constitutional amendment to set up a separate entity outside the state legislature to control redistricting. The 10-member commission is split equally along partisan lines. Of them, eight were appointed by partisan legislative leaders, which critics point to as evidence that it was set up to fail and ultimately give the legislature final say over the maps.

“It was a hallmark of the Cuomo administration to introduce bold measures to make great headlines that have little to no substance. The redistricting deal is that kind of deal,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, which did not support the referendum, declaring it inadequate. “Clearly the desperate desire for a deal overcame good governance.”

So far, critics like Lerner have been right. In its first attempt this year to draw new maps, the commission couldn’t agree, with Democrats drafting one map and Republicans another. If the two sides remain at an impasse, redrawing the lines will fall to the legislators who voters wanted out of the process. Even if the commission does ultimately agree on a map, the state lawmakers are allowed to reject it and draw their own.