The Florida Legislature has approved a new congressional map proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis, a move that critics and community advocates say is designed to consolidate Republican power...
The map was approved by the state legislature on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, just two days after Governor DeSantis presented his proposal.
La Mesa Boricua de Florida, a coalition that includes organizations such as Boricua Vota, has condemned the redistricting plan.
The Florida Legislature has approved a new congressional map proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis, a move that critics and community advocates say is designed to consolidate Republican power by diluting the voting strength of minority communities, specifically Puerto Rican voters.
The map was approved by the state legislature on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, just two days after Governor DeSantis presented his proposal. According to reports, the Governor provided the redesign to lawmakers for evaluation only 24 hours before the special session began.
Impact on Puerto Rican Voters
La Mesa Boricua de Florida, a coalition that includes organizations such as Boricua Vota, has condemned the redistricting plan. The group argues that the new boundaries will fragment the Puerto Rican vote in a state that currently hosts the largest population of Puerto Ricans in the United States.
From Instagram — related to Puerto Ricans, Boricua Vota
Con este nuevo mapa aprobado en Tallahassee ayer (miércoles), en vez de que los electores escojan a sus candidatos, estos eligen a sus electores. Para los puertorriqueños en Florida, esta redistribución de distritos asesta un golpe duro, porque diluye nuestro voto y por ende nuestra capacidad de elegir quien nos representa.
Florida approves new congressional redistricting map
La Mesa Boricua de Florida, in a written statement to El Diario NY
The coalition further alleged that the move violates the Florida Constitution, which prohibits the design of electoral maps to favor any specific political party. Activists pointed to the 2010 approval of the Fair Districts amendment, which was passed by 63% of voters, as a mandate for fair representation that the current plan ignores.
A report from the Orlando Sentinel indicates that the DeSantis plan specifically fragments the Latino vote, including that of Puerto Ricans, by distributing these voters across several districts that lean Republican. This strategy is viewed by detractors as an effort to shield Republican control of the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Political and Legal Context
The redistricting effort comes amid a broader national trend of map revisions in states such as Texas and California. In Florida, Republicans currently hold 20 of the state’s 28 congressional seats.
The timing of the approval coincided with a significant legal development. on April 28, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court revoked a key racial provision of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). Critics anticipate this ruling will have harmful effects on minority communities, potentially making it harder to challenge maps that dilute minority voting power.
La Mesa Boricua expressed frustration that the administration is prioritizing political maneuvering over pressing economic issues. The group urged Governor DeSantis to focus on the high cost of living, including the price of food, insurance, and public services, which affects more than one million Puerto Ricans who have settled in Central Florida.
Democratic lawmakers and civil organizations have described the redistribution as unconstitutional. Some organizations are currently evaluating the possibility of filing a lawsuit to challenge the new map in court.
