Chautauqua County residents have a way to go before they know who may represent them in Congress in 2023.

The state Independent Redistricting Commission has released two draft maps of Congressional district lines after Republicans and Democrats couldn’t agree on a compromise plan during several recent meetings. More meetings are scheduled, as are a series of public hearings throughout the state. If there is no agreement among commission members by Jan. 15, the state Legislature is given authority to redraw the legislative boundaries.

Of interest locally is how the Republican- and Democrat-produced maps treat the 23rd Congressional District. The Republican map keeps Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties in a rural district from Chautauqua County far into Central New York while the Democrat plan places Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties into a district with the Buffalo area.

New York will lose one Congressional seat, with Democrats looking to New York to keep their slim control on the U.S. House of Representatives.

See Friday’s edition for complete coverage.