WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A new political and legal fight is unfolding in Florida just days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed new congressional district maps into law, with at least three lawsuits now challenging the redrawn lines.
One of the challenges was filed within hours of the governor’s signing. Equal Ground Education Fund, a Florida-based voting rights group, along with 18 Florida voters, filed a 71-page lawsuit arguing the map violates Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment, which bans partisan gerrymandering.
“The governor will continue to peddle out different justifications as to why they did this,” said Genesis Robinson, executive director of Equal Ground. “He’s obviously always careful to try as best as he can to avoid for admitting that this is for partisan reasons or to diminish black voting power.”
Equal Ground made a stop in West Palm Beach on Wednesday as part of a statewide tour focused on the new maps. Robinson said the new lines favor Republicans, creating 24 Republican-leaning districts compared to four Democratic ones.
“The voters of this state are sophisticated enough to know map rigging and political gerrymandering when they see it,” Robinson said.
Some of the biggest changes are in South Florida, where districts stretch farther and cross more city and county lines. District 20, which has long centered Black communities in Palm Beach and Broward counties, is now drawn entirely within Broward County.
“We now see the hands of time being rolled back and their opportunity to elect a candidate of choice being diminished. And so that’s quite a shame,” Robinson said.
The lawsuit also criticizes the process used to approve the map, alleging it was drafted behind closed doors and rushed through with little public input.
“They waited to do this until a special session,” Robinson said. “And even when they had that special session scheduled, they moved it back another week. And so this would be incredibly confusing to voters.”
Equal Ground has also filed an emergency injunction asking a judge to block the maps from being used while the case moves forward, arguing the new lines could create confusion for voters.
Florida has faced similar legal challenges before. The state was sued over its maps in 2022, and earlier challenges forced redistricting changes in 2015.