TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate voted 21-17 to pass Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed congressional district map. The plan now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
The Republican Party of Florida issued a statement on the new congressional maps, calling them reflective of the state’s growth and voter priorities.
“Florida got it right. Governor Ron DeSantis and our Legislature have delivered congressional maps that reflect the continued growth of our state that are fair, and constitutional, ensuring Florida voters are represented accurately. This is responsible governance and we applaud Governor DeSantis for his leadership on this and the Legislature for moving forward and passing these new maps.”
Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell criticized the Legislature’s passage of what she called Ron DeSantis’ partisan gerrymander.
"Over the last year, we’ve heard a wide range of excuses from Governor Ron DeSantis about why he wanted to illegally gerrymander Congressional districts in Florida. The fact of the matter is this: the map that was passed today is a direct response to the President’s call to gerrymander maps to help Republicans and that is illegal under our state’s Constitution. Nothing that has happened has changed that simple fact."
The effort began Tuesday inside the Capitol, even as more than 100 protesters and voting rights advocates rallied outside, condemning the mid-decade redraw as illegal, politically motivated, and harmful to fair representation.
WATCH: DeSantis-backed redistricting plan moves forward as Democrats prepare legal fight
“It’s illegal, and it’s cheating. It’s cheating,” said Libby Drury, one of the protesters gathered outside the Capitol.
Demonstrators chanted “hands off our maps” as Republican lawmakers inside began the formal process of reviewing the governor’s proposal.
House Speaker Danny Perez said lawmakers have a responsibility to consider the plan now that it has been submitted.
“The governor drew a map, and it is our job to entertain that map, to debate it, to converse it, and to eventually vote on it,” Perez said.
Republicans were moving on an accelerated timeline.
During committee testimony, officials from the Executive Office of the Governor argued the redraw is justified because Florida’s population has grown and because the current congressional map relies too heavily on race.
Jason Poreda, an official with the governor’s office, told lawmakers the new proposal was drafted without taking race into account.
“I drew this map as a race-neutral map without consideration of the race, as you just heard from members,” Poreda said, drawing laughter from some in the room before lawmakers restored order.
Democrats and voting rights groups argue the proposal is an unconstitutional power grab that violates Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment, which prohibits drawing districts to favor or disfavor a political party.
Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, said opponents are already preparing to challenge the map in court.
“The game plan is lawsuits will start both on the state and the federal level,” Fried said. “The Democratic coalition has been working on this moment since October.”
Attorneys for the governor, meanwhile, signaled they are ready for the legal fight ahead.
“If compliance with the Voting Rights Act or the Florida constitution violates the Equal Protection Clause, again, this is the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, then the Equal Protection Clause prevails,” said attorney Mo Jazil.
The outcome remains uncertain, though any state court challenge could ultimately land before the Florida Supreme Court, where DeSantis has appointed six of the seven justices.
The redistricting push is also crowding out other priorities from the governor’s agenda. The House made clear Tuesday it will not take up DeSantis’ proposed “AI Bill of Rights” or his effort to loosen vaccine rules during the special session.
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