TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Lawmakers in the Florida House voted to approve the new redistricting map proposal released earlier this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis. After a brief debate, the measure passed with a vote of 83-28. 

Now, the measure heads to the Florida Senate, where it could face a vote as early as Wednesday. 

The special session was called by DeSantis in January, and it kicked off Tuesday in Tallahassee and is scheduled to run through Friday, May 1, but it could end sooner if the measure passes.

The topic of congressional redistricting has become controversial among state lawmakers. It’s a largely unprecedented move to redistrct mid-decade.

DeSantis unveiled his proposal for new congressional maps on Monday, which, if approved, could potentially give Republicans an advantage in Florida’s U.S. House races this November.

Florida law bans gerrymandering for political gain.

Under the governor’s proposed map, Republicans could potentially gain four seats in Congress. The move would make Florida one of the final states to redraw their congressional maps, joining Texas, Virginia and California.

“We’re in a situation where, you know, we believe there’s defects in the current map,” DeSantis said during an August 2025 press conference. “We also believe that the districts are malapportioned because of the explosive growth that we’ve seen in the state of Florida. And so, I think even if they don’t do a new census, even if they don’t revise the current census, I still think it is appropriate to be doing it.”

State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) opposes redistricting.

“I always say it is the swamp-like behavior that people hate about politics,” Driskell said. “It really turns people off. And I get it because you want a governor that works for you, and instead it just feels like it’s the other way around.”

State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers) is open to the idea.

“The governor’s office released a legal memorandum with the map,” she said. “It’s persuasive, and we look forward to hearing more from the governor’s team today in the subcommittee.”