Cayuga County could be split between two congressional districts if plans from the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission are approved.
The commission voted 9-1 on Thursday to submit a new congressional map to the state legislature.
Under the proposed changes, the southern half of the county, including Auburn, Aurora, Union Springs, and Moravia would become part of a new 22nd Congressional District along with Syracuse, Utica, and Cortland. The current 22nd district is represented by Congressman Brandon Williams who lives outside his current district in Sennett. Under the new lines, Sennett would be part of the 22nd.
The remainder of the county, including Cato, Cayuga, Fair Haven, Port Byron, and Weedsport would remain in the 24th Congressional District, currently occupied by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. Much like its current design, the new 24th would be vast, stretching from Niagara Falls to Watertown while bypassing Rochester. It would include most of the Finger Lakes region.
If approved, the new district boundaries would go into effect for the upcoming November elections.
The commission had until February 28 to submit a new map after a December ruling by the state’s Court of Appeals ruled the current lines needed to be redrawn.
The uncertainty over which district or districts the county would lie in caused the Cayuga County Democratic Committee to hold off on endorsing any congressional candidates for the 2024 elections.