Florida to use US House districts drawn by Republicans for midterm elections
State supreme court ruling aids nationwide redistricting effort aimed at helping party retain slim House majority
TL;DR
- The Florida Supreme Court ruled 6-1 to allow new Republican-drawn US House districts for the midterm elections.
- The court denied a request for a temporary injunction, stating it lacked jurisdiction while the lawsuit proceeds in lower courts.
- Attorneys for voters argued the new districts violate the state constitution's prohibition on partisan gerrymandering.
- Republicans aim to use the new districts, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, to potentially gain four additional House seats.
- The decision provides certainty for candidates facing a Friday deadline to qualify for the August primaries.
- Opponents criticized the ruling as an "assault on democracy" and vowed to continue legal challenges, potentially into the 2028 election cycle.
- Florida is one of several Republican-led states undertaking mid-decade redistricting to benefit the GOP's House majority.
- The new map redraws a district previously intended to help elect a Black representative, which opponents claim violates a 2010 constitutional amendment.