The Florida House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve a new congressional map proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis, moving the redistricting process one step closer to finalization despite intense pushback from the minority party.
The bill now heads to the Florida Senate, where it has been referred to the Rules Committee for further review.
Governor DeSantis has maintained that the redrawn lines are necessary to correct a 2020 Census undercount that he claims shorted the state a seat. He also argued that previous maps were “distorted” by a 2010 voter-approved amendment to the Florida Constitution, which ensures a majority Black district in North Florida.
DeSantis has framed his map as a move away from “race-based considerations” that he believes have overly influenced Florida’s geography.
READ: Florida GOP Praises Supreme Court Ruling In Louisiana Case As Mandate For Florida Maps
Democrats, however, contend the map is a direct violation of that same 2010 amendment, which prohibits drawing boundaries to favor a specific political party.
Pointing to the fact that the map was initially released as an exclusive to Fox News and featured color-coded political leanings, critics labeled the proposal a clear instance of partisan gerrymandering designed to create four new Republican-leaning districts.
The House vote took place against a backdrop of major legal shifts. On the same day, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling striking down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana.
The court’s conservative majority found that the district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, relied too heavily on race. This decision has effectively weakened Civil Rights-era protections that historically increased minority representation, potentially opening the door for similar redistricting efforts nationwide.
READ: Voting Rights Group Rips SCOTUS Louisiana Map Ruling As Attack On “Fundamental Freedoms”
Following the High Court’s announcement, Florida Senate Democrats called for a pause in the proceedings.
They urged the Republican supermajority to delay debate so lawmakers could consult with legal counsel on how the Louisiana ruling might impact the legality of the DeSantis proposal. Republican leadership refused the request, opting to move forward immediately.
Amid the legislative tension, the University of South Florida announced it will hold a vigil this Friday to honor students who were recently murdered, providing a somber local focus as the state capital remains embroiled in the redistricting battle.
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