TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCJB\/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Florida\u2019s new congressional map is sparking threats of lawsuits one day after lawmakers passed it.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the map that his office created. He said the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday means states can\u2019t use race as the main reason to draw district lines. He argued that\u2019s why a South Florida district had to be redrawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had justification,\u201d DeSantis said. \u201cIt not only vindicated why we were doing what we were doing, but it compelled us to do what we were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor\u2019s office told lawmakers it used political data, not race. Critics said that it violates Florida\u2019s Fair Districts rules, which ban drawing maps mainly to help a party.<\/p>\n
That admission could expose the map to legal challenges that lawmakers didn\u2019t want any part of.<\/p>\n
Sen. Jennifer Bradley was one of four Republican senators who voted against the map.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a duty to uphold the constitution that I swore to defend,\u201d said Bradley, R-Fleming Island. \u201cI can\u2019t do it, it\u2019s just unconstitutional. It\u2019s a tough one, but I\u2019m a no.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the House Democratic minority leader, said the use of partisan data could provide grounds for a legal challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact remains that partisan data was admittedly used to redraw every district on this map. On that basis, I\u2019m optimistic, at least hopeful that a court can still look at it and find it unconstitutional,\u201d Driskell said.<\/p>\n
Florida\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t act like this was in Virginia; it\u2019s not even close. This is something we\u2019ve been fighting for a number of years,\u201d DeSantis said.<\/p>\n
Attorneys plan to file lawsuits as soon as the governor signs the bill.<\/p>\n