New York Governor Kathy Hochul had recently joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom in expressing openness to taking up mid-decade redistricting. But state laws mandating independent commissions or blunting the ability to gerrymander would come into play.

The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) was established by a 2014 voter-approved constitutional amendment designed to take partisanship out of the redistricting process. The goal was to reduce gerrymandering and create fairer, more competitive districts. For years, good-government groups have heralded it as a model of reform.

Texas lawmakers gathered in New York to blast Republicans’ redistricting proposal after more than 50 Texas House Democrats fled the state ahead of a scheduled legislative session on Monday. As the GOP seeks to redraw congressional maps and add as many as five congressional seats in their favor,