Redistricting key to future of Weiner’s US House seat

Associated Press

NEW YORK

With U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s humiliating exit from office, New York is likely to have a special election sometime in the next few months to pick his successor, but voters probably shouldn’t expect a bruising public contest over the right to go to Washington. The job might not even exist in 19 months.

Because of population shifts, New York state is slated to lose two House seats in 2013, and lawmakers in Albany will spend the next few years redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts in a highly politicized process that could, in theory, wipe Weiner’s old territory in Queens and Brooklyn from the map.

Traditionally, lawmakers looking to butcher a district have turned to ones where there is no incumbent, or one with little seniority. That would seem to put the 9th Congressional District at risk for elimination, or at least a bigger overhaul of its borders than other districts in the state.

“The question then becomes, is it worth going for a seat that may not exist?” said Douglas Muzzio, a professor at Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs.

That option still could present a good political steppingstone for a Democrat looking to move up the ranks in a highly Democratic city, said Matthew Hiltzik, a public-relations specialist and political consultant.

“It’s an opportunity to build name recognition, and be in a position to possibly stay in Congress if something unusual happens,” he said.

But entering the race could be a tougher call for a GOP candidate, who, if victorious, would be almost certain to see his or her seat gerrymandered out of existence.