TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCJB/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Florida’s new congressional map is sparking threats of lawsuits one day after lawmakers passed it.
The legislature passed the map within 72 hours of its release. The new lines could shift who has the advantage in several U.S. House races and are expected to be challenged in court.
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the map that his office created. He said the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday means states can’t use race as the main reason to draw district lines. He argued that’s why a South Florida district had to be redrawn.
“We had justification,” DeSantis said. “It not only vindicated why we were doing what we were doing, but it compelled us to do what we were doing.”
The governor’s office told lawmakers it used political data, not race. Critics said that it violates Florida’s Fair Districts rules, which ban drawing maps mainly to help a party.
That admission could expose the map to legal challenges that lawmakers didn’t want any part of.
Sen. Jennifer Bradley was one of four Republican senators who voted against the map.
“I have a duty to uphold the constitution that I swore to defend,” said Bradley, R-Fleming Island. “I can’t do it, it’s just unconstitutional. It’s a tough one, but I’m a no.”
Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the House Democratic minority leader, said the use of partisan data could provide grounds for a legal challenge.
“The fact remains that partisan data was admittedly used to redraw every district on this map. On that basis, I’m optimistic, at least hopeful that a court can still look at it and find it unconstitutional,” Driskell said.
Florida’s move follows a national trend of states redrawing maps for partisan advantage that started last year after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw districts in an attempt to win more House seats. Other GOP-led states and Democratic-led states like Virginia followed.
“Don’t act like this was in Virginia; it’s not even close. This is something we’ve been fighting for a number of years,” DeSantis said.
Attorneys plan to file lawsuits as soon as the governor signs the bill.
You can find what district you’ll live in on this map.
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