Florida judge upholds new GOP congressional map
A Florida judge blocked an effort to temporarily halt the use of a newly approved congressional map, dealing another setback to Democrats seeking to stop the state’s latest redistricting push.
TL;DR
- A Florida judge, Joshua Hawkes, refused to temporarily block the state's new congressional map.
- The map, approved by Republican lawmakers and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is expected to benefit Republicans.
- Groups challenging the map allege it violates Florida's constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering.
- The judge cited the proximity of elections and the need for certainty as reasons for his ruling.
- The ruling is seen as a setback for Democrats, though legal challenges are ongoing and expected to reach the Florida Supreme Court.
- Florida's constitution prohibits partisan gerrymandering, but recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have limited the role of race in redistricting.