Judge rules Florida's new congressional map will remain intact ahead of midterms
A Florida judge upheld the state’s newly drawn congressional map, rejecting claims of partisan gerrymandering by voting rights groups, while citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana ruling on the Voting Rights Act. The map, drawn by an aide to Gov. Ron DeSantis, will remain in place ahead of the 2026 midterms, though opponents vowed to appeal the decision.
A Tallahassee judge ruled Tuesday that Florida’s newly drawn congressional districts will remain intact ahead of the 2026 midterms, rejecting a challenge from voting rights organizations and voters. Judge Joshua Hawkes of the Leon Circuit Court dismissed arguments by Common Cause and Equal Ground Education Fund that the map, crafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ aide Jason Poreda, was designed to advantage Republicans in the U.S. House. The groups argued the map violated Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment, a 2010 voter-approved measure banning partisan gerrymandering. However, Hawkes ruled they failed to prove the previous 2022 map would have been constitutional if reinstated. His decision also weighed the state’s anti-partisan intent law against the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana ruling, which weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act, including protections for racially drawn districts. Lawyers for DeSantis and the GOP-led Legislature argued the prior map’s District 20, which favored Black voters, could now be unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s decision. Hawkes concluded that any partisan intent in the 2026 map was less harmful than potential racial discrimination concerns. The voting rights groups announced plans to appeal, citing widespread opposition to gerrymandering among Floridians. The new map was passed amid a national redistricting battle, with President Donald Trump urging GOP-led states to redraw districts to retain House control. Fox News previously projected the Florida map could give Republicans four additional seats based on 2024 election data. Qualifying for House seats begins June 8, leaving little time for legal challenges to take effect before the midterms. DeSantis’ office shared the map with Fox News before legislative approval, highlighting its potential impact on Republican gains. The ruling does not address broader partisan tensions in redistricting, as states like Texas and California have also redrawn maps to favor their respective parties.
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