Marjorie Park Marina in Davis Islands serves as a polling precinct for the 2024 primary elections // Chris Young, WMNF News, 8/20/24
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On Friday, lawyers are heading to court to ask a state court to temporarily block Florida’s new congressional map.
The National Redistricting Foundation previewed their arguments on Thursday.
The circuit court of Leon County will hear oral arguments in Equal Ground Education Fund versus Byrd.
The National Redistricting Foundation is supporting the Fund and individual voters in their legal challenge to Florida’s mid-decade congressional redistricting.
Marina Jenkins is the group’s executive director.
“This is a strong case, and the central argument is straightforward. The Florida Constitution prohibits drawing congressional districts with partisan intent. And Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature did exactly that openly and on the record.” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said the intent is clear.
“The partisan intent shows up clearly in the map itself. The 2026 plan systemically targets the regions of Florida that are represented by Democrats and that are home to racially diverse populations.” Jenkins said.
According to Politico, Florida has pushed back, saying that other states, including Virginia, did more blatant gerrymandering.
Jenkins says the congressional map splits Florida’s most politically balanced region – Tampa Bay.
The southern part of Pinellas County, including much of St. Petersburg, is lumped into a district that stretches into Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, DeSoto, and Polk Counties as well.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the congressional redistricting will largely split up Black voters.
Historically Black East Tampa will share a representative with Citrus County, over 90 miles away.