Florida continues redistricting efforts despite facing political and legal challenges

Florida is stepping into the high-stakes national contest over redistricting, with a legislative hearing scheduled for Thursday that marks the start of another heated debate over congressional maps. Republicans are aiming to leverage their control of state government, which already sees them representing 20 of 28 congressional districts, to strengthen their narrow House majority ahead of next years midterm elections. However, the effort faces significant legal and political challenges.

Legally, voters approved a 2010 constitutional amendment designed to prevent partisan gerrymandering. While the state Supreme Court has relaxed restrictions on racial gerrymandering, the ban on drawing districts to favor or disadvantage a political party remains in effect. According to the Florida Constitution, No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent. Lawmakers must therefore justify any new map without referencing the partisan goals that have driven similar efforts in other states.

While aggressive partisan redistricting is allowed in some states, in Florida it is explicitly prohibited, said Amy Keith, executive director of Common Cause Florida.

Politically, the path forward is also complex. Floridas Republican governor and Legislature are not fully aligned on timing and strategy. The House has scheduled two hearings this month to discuss redistricting, while Gov. Ron DeSantis recently indicated a preference for a new map to be completed in the spring, just before the candidate filing deadline. This timing could allow the state to consider a possible Supreme Court decision on a Louisiana case that might alter the application of the Voting Rights Act, potentially easing the redistricting process. Senate GOP leader Ben Albritton has expressed support for the governors timeline, cautioning lawmakers to maintain careful records in anticipation of legal challenges.

No formal map proposals have been submitted yet, but expectations are that a redraw could yield Republicans three to five additional seats, with three being the most likely scenario. Any special legislative session to approve the new map would need to occur by early April, ahead of the April 20 federal candidate qualifying deadline.

Democratic-held districts that could be impacted include those of Reps. Darren Soto in Orlando and Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz in South Florida. Aggressive Republican attempts risk creating a dummymander, where intended gains inadvertently make safe Democratic districts more competitive. Despite Democrats limited ability to block the process in a Republican-dominated Legislature, a coalition of over 30 pro-democracy and progressive groups plans to mobilize more than 300 protesters at the state Capitol in Tallahassee on Thursday.

Floridas involvement in redistricting comes as Republicans face a mixed national landscape. The party achieved gains in Texas earlier in the cycle, but California Democrats recently approved new district lines that could offset those gains. Other Republican efforts in Missouri and North Carolina have seen uneven success, and a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision could affect the usability of Texas new map in 2026.

The broader redistricting season continues nationwide. In Indiana, a Republican-backed map aiming for a two-seat gain is moving through the legislature, while Virginia Democrats have launched a multi-step mapping process that could extend into spring. Maryland, Illinois, and Kansas also face ongoing redistricting pressures, indicating that the battle over congressional boundaries remains far from over.

Author: Lucas Grant