Proposed FL Redistricting Map Could Create 4 More GOP Seats

Gov. Ron DeSantis released on Monday a proposed redistricting map of Florida that redraws congressional lines to heavily favor Republicans, despite the state’s strict redistricting rules, according to multiple reports.

He released the proposed map on the eve of a Florida Legislature special session, which begins Tuesday, to consider the changes. The new map would create four new GOP-leaning U.S. House seats if passed, NBC News reported.

The state legislature, which has a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate, is expected to approve the proposed redistricting, which would then head back to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

If passed, this would make Florida the eighth state to redistrict during this election cycle after President Donald Trump’s push last year for states to redraw their maps in an effort to boost the number of Republicans in the U.S House, reports said.

Under Florida’s current congressional map — which was also drawn by DeSantis — Republicans currently hold 20 seats compared to the seven in Democratic control. One empty seat was recently left vacant by the resignation of former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat.

The new map, if approved, would take effect for the 2026 midterm elections and give Republicans a 24-4 advantage over Democrats, reports said.

"Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we’ve been fighting for fair representation ever since," DeSantis told Fox News Digital. "Our population has since grown dramatically, and we have moved from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage. Drawing maps based on race, which is reflected in our current congressional districts, is unconstitutional and should be prohibited."

The governor added, "Our new map for 2026 makes good on my promise to conduct mid-decade redistricting, and it more fairly represents the makeup of Florida today.”

The new color-coded map released by DeSantis’ office shows either red or blue districts, seemingly indicating the political leaning of each district.

Only districts 10, 20, 23 and 24 are blue on the map, and presumably expected to vote Democrat, while the rest of the state is red.

“This is wild,” an unnamed Florida Republican consultant who has been involved in previous redistricting initiatives told NBC News. “I don’t know how you can argue a red and blue map released from the governor’s office doesn’t show some form of partisan intent.”

While Florida law prohibits creating heavily partisan congressional or state legislative maps, or maps that are intended to help or hurt incumbents, this may no longer be valid, according to a legal memo given to state legislators by David Axelman, general counsel to DeSantis, Politico said.

Axelman’s memo reportedly suggests that the state provision regarding legislative maps is no longer valid because of a state Supreme Court ruling that upheld Florida’s current congressional map, which eliminated districts previously drawn with the protection of minority voters in mind.

Still, Democratic leaders are maintaining that DeSantis' latest redistricting effort is illegal and the party is gearing up for a fight.

“The lawsuits have already been drafted,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried told CBS 12 News. “It’s just a matter of how much more evidence they’re going to give us before the lawsuits are filed.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also warned Republican leaders in the Sunshine State about redistricting efforts in Florida, reports said.

"Our message to Florida Republicans is ‘F around and find out.’ If they go down the road of a DeSantis dummymander, the Florida Republicans are gonna find themselves in the same situation as Texas Republicans, who are on the run right now,” Jeffries said, adding, "Under no circumstances are Texas Republicans picking up five seats. They'll be fortunate if they get two or three. While in California, we are going to get all five.”