TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Thursday marks the first step forward for redistricting in Florida as the House Committe on Congressional Redistricting will meet for the first time.
What You Need To Know
Gov. DeSantis is reaffirming Florida’s goal to redraw its congressional maps
He provided a potential special session timeline of March, April and May
Critics rebuke the effort as a politically motivated effort, rallied by President Trump
On the board is Orlando Democratic Rep. Johanna Lopez, who represents District 43.
There has been lots of mixed reactions following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement, as he announced that he is planning on calling a special session as early as next March so that lawmakers can redraw Florida’s map.
“We’re going to redistrict… we’re going to do it next spring,” DeSantis said in an exclusive interview with The Floridian, a news site focused on Florida politics.
DeSantis said the timeline for a special session could range from March to May.
In order for that to happen though, he still needs approval from the House and Senate as the timing of his announcement would allow the Sunshine State to watch the U.S. Supreme Court, which is reconsidering parts of the voting rights act of 1965, which amongst other things, gives minorities the power to challenge discriminatory maps.
Voting rights advocates from the American Civil Liberties Union worry that this move could unlawfully benefit one party over another. Civil‑rights groups and voting‑rights advocates warn that a new round of redistricting could collide with Florida’s own constitutional limits.
“To be perfectly clear, in Florida, it’s illegal and unconstitutional to draw districts to benefit one party over another,” said Abdelilah Skhir of the ACLU at a press conference Tuesday in the Capitol.
Meanwhile, some Republican leaders frame the push as part of a broader national battle over the congressional map. At least six other states are already revisiting their lines, and allies of President Donald Trump are urging Republican‑controlled legislatures to follow suit. Trump first made the call in summer of 2025.
“It will end in two very partisan draws in red and blue states, I would imagine,” said Florida GOP Chair Evan Power. “But that’s what they’re trying to do in California. That’s what they’ve done in Massachusetts. That’s what they’ve done in New York. That’s what they’ve done in Illinois.”
Critics in Florida describe the governor’s plan as political, discriminatory, and potentially unlawful. They point to the state’s “Fair Districts” amendments, which ban maps that favor a party or an incumbent.
“To the Legislature: Your constitutional duty could not be more clear,” said Jonathan Webber of Southern Poverty Law Center. “You can obey the Constitution or bow to political pressure, but you cannot do both.”
DeSantis will need the support of both the Florida House and Senate to redraw Florida’s lines. The Florida House’s committee on redistricting is scheduled to meet later this week. It’ll mark the panel’s first meeting, and the Legislature’s most meaningful step yet toward new maps.
Meanwhile, the Florida Senate has yet to formally publish an opinion. Nor did Senate President Ben Albritton assemble a panel to brainstorm redistricting, like the House.
DeSantis and Albritton met Tuesday, according to a Florida Senate spokeswoman.
“The Governor reiterated to the President what he has stated publicly — that the timeline for addressing redistricting should be next Spring,” wrote Florida Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta.