Florida Redistricting: Supreme Court Blocks Maps Without New Census Data

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida lawmakers on Wednesday approved a new congressional map proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, despite concerns it will significantly reduce the number of districts where Democrats have a strong chance of winning. The move came the same day the Supreme Court issued a ruling in a Louisiana redistricting case, a decision DeSantis had been awaiting.

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature passed the plan with little debate, aiming to give the GOP an advantage in four seats currently held by Democrats, according to reporting from CNN. The proposal specifically targets districts in the Tampa and Orlando areas, as well as redrawing lines in South Florida. Currently, Florida Republicans hold 20 of the state’s 28 US House seats. DeSantis’ plan seeks to leave Democrats with only four seats.

Within hours of the map’s release, Florida Democrats vowed to challenge it in court. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated, “See you in Court,” signaling an impending legal battle. Jeffries later told reporters he believes Democrats could gain “between three and five additional seats” if voter turnout in November mirrors that of the 2018 midterms or the 2020 presidential election.

Redistricting experts have warned that the plan could backfire on Republicans if there is a strong Democratic surge in the November midterm elections. University of Florida redistricting expert Michael McDonald described the proposal as a “plus-two or plus-three map” for the GOP, but cautioned that it “could backfire gloriously if it’s just a bloodbath everywhere” for Republicans.

Supreme Court Ruling Adds Context to Redistricting Debate

The Florida House’s vote came on the same day the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. While the details of the ruling were not immediately available, DeSantis had been anticipating the decision as it relates to the state’s redistricting efforts. The timing suggests the court’s decision may have influenced the legislature’s swift approval of the new map.

This latest development follows a 2025 Florida Supreme Court ruling upholding DeSantis’ previous congressional map, which had been criticized for erasing Black representation in a North Florida district, as noted in previous reporting. The current proposal continues a pattern of aggressive redistricting efforts by the DeSantis administration and Florida Republicans.

Concerns Over Weakening Voting Power of Communities of Color

The new map raises concerns about potentially weakening the voting power of communities of color in Florida. The Southern Poverty Law Center highlighted the story of former U.S. Rep. Alfred Lawson, who benefited from a previous redistricting plan that created a district encompassing a large African American population in northern Florida. The SPLC noted that Lawson’s story “illustrates the appetite that conservatives have for gerrymandering the Sunshine State at any turn.”

Jeffries used the term “DeSantis Dummymander” to describe the map, a pejorative term for a gerrymander that ultimately fails to achieve its intended outcome. The legal challenge from Democrats is expected to focus on arguments that the map violates the Voting Rights Act and unfairly discriminates against minority voters.

The outcome of the legal battle will likely determine the composition of Florida’s congressional delegation for the next decade, and could have significant implications for the balance of power in the US House of Representatives.