Should the state legislature, which holds a<\/a> Republican majority in both the state House and Senate, approve the redrawing, it would then return to DeSantis to be signed into law and would apply to the 2026 midterms.<\/p>\n “Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we\u2019ve been fighting for fair representation ever since,” DeSantis told Fox News Digital. “Our population has since grown dramatically, and we have moved from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage. Drawing maps based on race, which is reflected in our current congressional districts, is unconstitutional and should be prohibited.”<\/p>\n Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposed redistricted congressional map that could give Republicans four additional seats if approved by the state legislature. (Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n “Our new map for 2026 makes good on my promise to conduct mid-decade redistricting<\/a>, and it more fairly represents the makeup of Florida today,” DeSantis added.<\/p>\n REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SIGNS INTO LAW TRUMP-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP<\/a><\/p>\n Currently, the Florida delegation to Congress is represented by 20 Republicans<\/a> and seven Democrats, with an eighth Democratic seat vacant following the resignation of former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.<\/p>\n The redistricted map proposal comes after Virginia recently approved a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to redraw Virginia\u2019s congressional districts and flip four GOP seats to the Democratic side.\u00a0<\/p>\n Virginia\u2019s new proposed map was praised by Democrats, including Gov. Abigail Spanberger<\/a> and former President Barack Obama.<\/p>\n The proposed map redraws Florida\u2019s congressional districts to reflect population shifts, consolidating GOP-leaning areas and creating four additional Republican-favored seats. (Office of Governor Ron DeSantis)<\/p>\n GOP GOVERNOR NOMINEE PUSHES REDISTRICTING TO OUST STATE’S LONE HOUSE DEM<\/a><\/p>\n “Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is \u2018entitled\u2019 to more Republican seats in Congress,” Spanberger said in a statement. “Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input \u2014 and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.”<\/p>\n Ffity-one and a half percent of Virginia voters<\/a> approved the amendment last week. Projections show 10 seats that likely will be won by Democrats, and just one by a Republican to represent the entirety of Virginia in Congress.\u00a0<\/p>\n Currently, Democrats hold six seats in Virginia while Republicans hold five.<\/p>\n NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA PROJECTED TO LOSE 6 HOUSE SEATS TO RED STATES AFTER 2030, CENSUS ANALYSIS SHOWS<\/a><\/p>\n DeSantis argued the new map reflects Florida\u2019s population growth and partisan shift while opposing race-based districting as unconstitutional. (Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n A source familiar with DeSantis\u2019 new map told Fox News Digital that the redistricting proposal isn\u2019t as closely tied to Virginia\u2019s recent sway toward Democratic seats, and that the decision is more related to the population increases.<\/p>\n “The governor has been planning this long before what took place in Virginia, and continues to be adamant that Floridians deserve fair representation that accurately reflects the state\u2019s changing population and demographics,” the source told Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n California implemented a similar strategy with the implementation of Prop 50, which temporarily allows the far-left Democratic assembly in the state to draw new congressional maps.<\/p>\n MARYLAND HOUSE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AS SENATE LEADERS WARN OF RISKS<\/a><\/p>\n The new California legislature-drawn maps show Democratic-leaning seats favoring four that were previously held by Republicans, with projections showing Democrats will hold as many as 48 seats in Congress while the GOP could have as few as four.<\/p>\n DeSantis faced opposition from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is the most likely pick to serve as speaker of the House should Democrats take back the majority in November.<\/p>\n Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, pictured alongside U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. (Eva Marie Uzcategui\/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)<\/p>\n “Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out<\/a>,” Jeffries said. “If they go down the road of a DeSantis dummymander, the Florida Republicans are gonna find themselves in the same situation as Texas Republicans, who are on the run right now.<\/p>\n VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS CHARGE ‘POWER GRAB’ AS DEMOCRAT WHO BACKED REDISTRICTING RUNS FOR CONGRESS<\/a><\/p>\n “Under no circumstances are Texas Republicans picking up five seats. They’ll be fortunate if they get two or three. While in California, we are going to get all five,” Jeffries added.<\/p>\n During a news conference in Florida, DeSantis responded to Jeffries\u2019 comments with an invitation to come down to the Sunshine State and campaign for Democratic congressional candidates, implying the state\u2019s Republican majority would hold strong in the midterm.<\/p>\n “Please. Be my guest. I will pay for you to come<\/a> down to Florida to campaign,” DeSantis said. “I\u2019ll put you up in the Florida governor\u2019s mansion. We will take you fishing.”<\/p>\n REPUBLICANS APPEAL JUDGE’S DECISION REJECTING NEW YORK CITY GOP DISTRICT LINES<\/a><\/p>\n Critics like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned Republicans could face political backlash, while DeSantis dismissed the criticism and expressed confidence in GOP strength. (Brendan Smialowski\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n “We\u2019ll do all this stuff. There\u2019s nothing that could be better for Republicans in Florida than to see Jeffries, Hakeem Jeffries, everywhere around this state,” DeSantis added.<\/p>\n The redistricting fight has been bolstered across red and blue states<\/a> as both parties attempt to take control of a Congress led by very slim majorities.<\/p>\n![\"Florida](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ron-desantis-hope-florida.jpg\")
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