Florida legislature approves GOP-friendly congressional map amid voting rights changes

The Florida legislature approved a new congressional map intended to maximize Republicans’ advantage in the state as part of the national redistricting battle initiated by Donald Trump before the midterms. The vote occurred just two days after Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled his proposal and on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. This ruling could complicate Democratic challenges to Republican redistricting efforts that limit the influence of voters of color.

DeSantis’s map could increase Republicans’ advantage in Florida’s House delegation to 24 to four, up from the current split of 20 to eight. The potential four-seat gain mirrors what Virginia Democrats expect from a recent redistricting referendum, which is currently being challenged in state court. Florida’s new districts are likely to face lawsuits as well, particularly because the state constitution prohibits redistricting for explicitly partisan purposes. However, DeSantis and his aides believe these provisions will not pose a legal barrier, citing previous weakening by the Florida Supreme Court and the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The new map reshapes districts in Democratic areas around Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and South Florida, which could jeopardize the seats of U.S. Representatives Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. DeSantis and his aides argue that the new map is necessary to reflect population growth in suburban and ex-urban areas since the 2020 census and to ensure a “race-neutral” congressional plan. The proposal anticipated the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, which specifically struck down a Louisiana congressional district designed for a majority Black electorate.

The changes in Florida include the effective elimination of a nearly majority Black South Florida district previously represented by Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Black Democrat, who resigned earlier this month. However, there is no certainty that the new maps will yield the desired outcomes for either party. For instance, Texas based its revised lines on Trump’s performance in 2024, redistributing voters to enhance Republican chances, yet Trump’s popularity has declined, particularly among Latino voters.

Florida may face a similar risk, as creating more majority-Republican districts could result in narrow margins that allow for Democratic victories, especially if an anti-Trump backlash occurs this year. Some Republicans have expressed concerns about this possibility, with a few voting against the measure in the Florida legislature.