Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., leaves a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The lawsuit argued that the existing district dilutes the voting power of Staten Island's growing Black and Latino voting populations, allegedly running afoul of minority protections in the New York Voting Rights Act.
"This lawsuit is so frivolous, it has absolutely no merit. It has absolutely no legal, valid argument," Malliotakis said.
The New York City Republican pointed to her own non-White roots, being born to a Cuban mother exiled by the communist Fidel Castro regime. Her father is from Greece.
MEXICAN IMMIGRANT-TURNED-CONGRESSWOMAN BLASTS DEM CLAIMS TEXAS REDISTRICTING HURTS HISPANIC VOTE
"The fact that they're claiming somehow Hispanics and minorities are disenfranchised when I'm the first Hispanic elected to represent the district makes it even more ridiculous," she said.
A tugboat and barge in upper New York Bay with Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and Staten Island in the background, New York City, New York. (Bruce Punger/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Texas recently adopted a new map that more heavily favors Republicans, while voters in California are set to weigh whether to allow its Democrat-dominated legislature to redraw districts there to help the left.
The White House has also pushed Missouri and Indiana, among other states, to also press for more GOP advantages.
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North Carolina Republicans approved a new map last month aimed at unseating moderate Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C.
Meanwhile, Maryland Democrats recently backed off threats to draw the state's own lone Republican, Rep. Andy Harris, D-Md., out of his seat.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nycs-lone-house-republican-pledges-defeat-democrat-redistricting-threat-her-seat