The Florida Senate approved a new congressional map Wednesday in a 21-17 vote, a plan that could position Republicans to win four additional U.S. House seats in the November midterm elections.
The vote came hours after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act in a case involving Louisiana's congressional districts. Both developments are expected to assist President Trump's national push to help the GOP in the midterms. The bill now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his expected signature.
What the Left Is Saying
State Sen. Lavon Bracy Davis criticized the redistricting as part of a broader political strategy. "Let's not pretend this is happening in a vacuum," she said during floor debate. "This is about power. This is about relinquishing our power and giving it to the president."
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried announced Tuesday that the party plans to file lawsuits challenging the map. "We are ready to not only challenge these maps with support from all of our Democratic coalition partners here in the state of Florida, across the country," she said. "The nation is watching what has happened here in the state of Florida, that democracy has fallen here in our state."
Democrats argue the redraw violates a 2010 constitutional amendment passed by Florida voters that protects minority access districts and bans politically motivated gerrymandering. They contend the timing of the redistricting, combined with the Supreme Court ruling, amounts to a coordinated effort to suppress Democratic voting power.
What the Right Is Saying
Governor Ron DeSantis has argued that Florida's rapid population growth necessitates redistricting. He has maintained that districts previously drawn to preserve voting power for minority communities should be reconfigured.
DeSantis had predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court would weaken the Voting Rights Act in a way that would support redistricting efforts in Florida. After Wednesday morning's ruling, he posted on X that it "invalidates" a Florida constitutional ban on districts that deny racial or language minorities equal opportunity to participate in the political process.
State Sen. Donald Gaetz spoke in favor of the redistricting during Senate debate Wednesday, arguing the changes reflect population shifts and legal requirements.
What the Numbers Show
According to figures from the governor's office, Florida currently has 28 congressional districts with 20 leaning Republican. The new map would raise that number to 24 districts favoring the GOP.
The partisan advantage gained through this redistricting is part of a broader national pattern. Republican-led states have passed maps giving their party an edge in approximately 13 seats, while Democratic-led states have responded with maps favoring Democrats in about 10 seats, according to election analysts tracking the mid-decade redistricting efforts.
Trump initiated an unusual mid-decade redistricting push this cycle, departing from typical once-per-decade redistricting following the census. Texas Republicans used similar reasoning to gain an advantage in five additional seats, while California Democrats responded by helping their party win five more seats.
The Bottom Line
The timing of Florida's new map presents legal complications for challengers. Michael Morley, who directs the Election Law Center at Florida State University, explained that court precedents generally oppose overturning election laws close to an election due to potential voter confusion.
"You have to have the primary. You have to have the ballots printed. You have to know what candidates have qualified for the ballots," Morley said. "They need to know what the districts actually are well in advance of both the primary and general elections." Florida primaries are scheduled for August.
Control of the U.S. House remains uncertain heading into November. While Republicans currently hold a slim majority, Democrats point to strong performances in recent special elections as evidence that the seat gains from redistricting may be offset by voter backlash. The outcome will determine whether Trump can maintain the congressional support needed to advance his administration's agenda.