PUBLISHED 6:30 PM ET Aug. 02, 2021 PUBLISHED 6:30 PM EDT Aug. 02, 2021 SHARE For decades, New York's political power structure was maintained with a relatively straightforward arrangement: Republicans held power in the state Senate, Democrats in the state Assembly, and both parties were able to draw their own district boundaries, in effect choosing their own voters, locking in their constituents to improve the odds of keeping power after Election Day. Lawmakers at the federal level even retained lobbyists to ensure their districts could be favorably drawn for the House of Representatives. The process would lead to some faintly ridiculous looking districts on a map, but ultimately shifting demographics upset that careful balance of power. But over the last seven years, things began to change — and could have a wide-ranging impact on who gets elected to office in New York, ultimately affecting what kind of policies are approved in Albany and Washington, D.C.