STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis was deemed “target number one” in a CBS interview as the gerrymandering war between Democratic and Republican states heats up.
Malliotakis was a guest on “The Point with Marcia Kramer” on Aug 24.
On the show, Malliotakis discussed a number of hot button topics, including the gerrymandering happening in Texas and California. With states like New York also threatening to redraw district lines, Kramer discussed the possibility of Malliotakis’ congressional seat being targeted.
Malliotakis holds the only Republican congressional seat within New York City, representing Staten Island and South Brooklyn.
“Well first of all, let me make clear that regardless of whether it’s Republicans or Democrats doing it, gerrymandering is wrong. It’s very corrupt. It takes away the voice of the people. We need to have competitive maps, so the voters are the ones who decide who represents them, and if they’re not happy, they have the ability to fire that individual,” Malliotakis said on the show.
Malliotakis went on to say that she maintains the singular “competitive seat” within the five boroughs.
Kramer then shifted the conversation to the political rumblings coming out of Texas and California, where gerrymandering measures have either passed or are in the process of being passed.
“So now that there’s a war of gerrymandering, Texas started it, they want it because control of the House in 2026 is a big deal, so they want to have five more Republican seats. California’s gonna do five more Democratic seats and that’s gonna start a whole war around the country. And when they look at New York, and they look at the Republican seats they can gerrymander, you’re target number one,” Kramer said.
Malliotakis, in an uncommon step away from her party and President Donald Trump, decried the actions of Texas Republicans.
The congresswoman said, “…I think it was wrong that the Republicans in Texas opened up this flood gate. I don’t agree with it and it’s clear in the law that politically redrawing our maps has to be done every decade, once a decade, as it relates to the census. So, it shouldn’t be happening, but here we are. And we’re gonna have to just continue to fight the state legislature on this. They can’t do it, number one, without a constitutional amendment, and that constitutional amendment will have to be approved by the voters.”
Malliotakis believes that “Republicans can win on merit” in the 2026 midterm elections, even without the five additional seats in Texas.
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