Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is present at the Boom Belt: A Return to First Principles in Public Markets conference on April 7, 2026, located in Miami, Florida.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Florida's state lawmakers approved a fresh congressional district layout Wednesday, potentially enabling Republicans to gain as many as four seats.
It is now headed to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who suggested it earlier in the week after hinting at a mid-decade redistricting plan for several months. The governor has asserted that due to Florida's increase in residents and various legal considerations, the state was obligated to revise its map.
Experts indicate the updated map might result in only four districts being held by Democrats in the state following the 2026 midterm elections.
However, it is anticipated to encounter legal disputes, notably because the Florida Constitution includes what are referred to as the Fair Districts Amendments, which disallow creating congressional districts "with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent" and offers safeguards for minority voters and keeping districts connected.
A congressional map proposal presented by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
Representatives for DeSantis have contended that the Fair Districts Amendments, endorsed by voters in 2010, possess flaws.
In contrast, Democrats have insisted that the process of evaluating the map was hurried and that the mid-decade redistricting tactic will be deemed unlawful by the courts.
"This is a map that is constructed and purposed to manipulate results, and to advantage a singular political party, the Republican Party, Donald Trump's Republican Party, in immediate breach of Florida's constitution," Democratic state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith expressed on Wednesday preceding the vote.
Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Powers stated "Florida achieved the correct outcome."
"Governor Ron DeSantis and our Legislature have provided congressional maps that demonstrate the ongoing expansion of our state that are equitable, and constitutional, ensuring Florida voters are represented with precision," Powers commented in a statement on Wednesday.
Certain Republican members of Florida’s U.S. House contingent had previously voiced worries that a map revision could boomerang for the GOP, weakening established representatives while energizing Democratic voters.
The approval of Florida's updated map occurred on the selfsame day that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Louisiana's congressional map as an illegal racial gerrymander and inflicted a setback to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
DeSantis and his staff maintained that the case and verdict gave validity to Florida redrawing its map.
The new Florida map also emerges about a week following a reverse for Republicans when Virginia voters gave the go-ahead to permitting a fresh congressional map there that could enable Democrats to gain as many as four seats. The consequences of that election are presently stalled in court.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com