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yesterday

DeSantis Calls April Special Session to Redraw Florida’s Congressional Map

DeSantis is timing the session to a pending Supreme Court decision that could alter how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is enforced.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press briefing in Tallahassee, Florida, U.S., September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Sears/File Photo
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference, Aug. 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
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Overview

  • DeSantis set an April special session for the Republican-led Legislature to draft new congressional district lines.
  • He said the timing is meant to await the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, which could redefine the legal standards for race-conscious maps under the Voting Rights Act.
  • Florida currently holds a 20–8 Republican edge under a map drawn by the governor’s office, and he has suggested a new map could further advantage the GOP.
  • Democratic-held districts flagged as potentially in flux include FL-9 (Darren Soto), FL-14 (Kathy Castor), and South Florida’s 20th, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th seats.
  • Any redraw must comply with Florida’s 2010 constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering, and legal challenges are expected as seen in other mid-decade remaps.