Governor calls on AG to pursue legal options with lost Congressional seat

NY would have kept all 27 Congressional seats if 89 more people had completed Census

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Following the U.S. Census Bureau’s announcement that New York State will lose one congressional seat next year, having fallen 89 Census responses short of keeping all 27 seats, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is calling on the New York State Attorney General to review the state’s legal options to challenge the decision.

Cuomo released the following statement:

“Census takers in New York faced unprecedented challenges last year in their efforts to get New Yorkers counted – from the pandemic’s effect on the mail system to the Trump Administration’s xenophobic, flagrant, and illegal efforts to hurt blue states by discouraging non-citizens and people of color from being counted.

“And despite a growing state population, New York State’s congressional delegation will lose a seat in the House of Representatives next year, having fallen an equally unprecedented 89 responses short of continuity.

“So much of our state’s recovery, revitalization, and resilience is dependent on having our voice heard in Washington, and we won’t allow Trump and his cronies to use one of our greatest attributes – our diversity – as an impediment. I’m calling on the Attorney General to review all legal options available to ensure the voice of every New Yorker is fairly and wholly represented in the halls of Congress.”