Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed a new congressional map into law that could add four districts favoring Republicans.
“Signed, Sealed, and Delivered,” DeSantis wrote on X.
The move quickly follows DeSantis unveiling a new congressional district map that would shift the state’s House delegation from 20 Republicans and 8 Democrats to a 24-4 Republican advantage. “The state was shortchanged during the 2020 census,” DeSantis told Fox News, describing the move as a fight for “fair representation.”
After the Supreme Court weakened the ability to use race as a factor for congressional maps, Florida Democrats argued that the decision does not affect the state’s constitution’s provision for race.
“In Florida, there is still a wall Republicans cannot get past: the Fair Districts amendment, written into our state constitution by voters. Ron DeSantis and his allies are already trying to use today’s SCOTUS ruling as cover for their own illegal, partisan power grab. It will not work here,” the Florida Democratic Party wrote in a statement obtained by ABC 4. “The Court may have rewritten federal law, but it does not have the power to rewrite Florida’s Constitution. Florida Democrats will use every tool available under our state constitution to fight these illegal maps and stop this power grab. And we will make clear to every voter in this state: while Washington weakens your protections, Florida Democrats are fighting to hold the line.”
A lawsuit against the redistricting has already been filed by Elias Law Group, which claimed the new map “would have one of the largest pro-Republican skews ever recorded.”
