As New York continues to grapple with the devastating effects of COVID-19— which will require significant federal aid to help tackle— its loss of seniority in Congress could impact future funding.

New York’s power in Congress will take a hit in November with the departure— via retirement and electoral defeat— of at least four representatives whose combined seniority totals 124 years.

Two of those four are current committee chairs: Reps. Nita Lowey (Appropriations) and Eliot Engel (Foreign Affairs).

One representative, Peter King, is the former chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and the other, Rep. José Serrano, is chairman of a key Appropriations Subcommittee. 

Rep. Carolyn Maloney— who chairs the Committee on Oversight and Reform with 28 years under her belt— is in a race still too close to call.

Adding to this loss of political clout will be a decrease in New York’s House seats due to post-2020 census reapportionment. 

From a high of 45 House seats in the early 1950s, New York is down to 27 seats and on track to lose at least one more.