On Wednesday, the Florida House of Representatives voted to pass a new redistricting plan that could help boost Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.
The House overwhelmingly passed the measure 83 to 28.
The proposal, which would apply to the 2026 midterm elections, must first pass Florida’s Republican-controlled Senate before heading back to the Governor for final approval.
“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.”
“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,” he added.
Florida currently sends 20 Republicans and seven Democrats to Congress, with one Democratic seat vacant following the resignation of former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. The new map could expand the GOP’s advantage, though some analysts caution that not all newly drawn districts would be guaranteed Republican wins. (RELATED: DeSantis Unveils New Congressional Map That Could Net Republicans 4 New Seats)
The redistricting effort comes amid a broader national battle over congressional maps, as both parties seek to gain an edge in a narrowly divided House. While some Democrats have pointed to recent developments in states like Virginia as part of a wider trend, a source familiar with DeSantis’ plan said the Florida proposal has been in the works for some time and is driven primarily by population changes.
“The governor has been planning this long before what took place in Virginia, and continues to be adamant that Floridians deserve fair representation that accurately reflects the state’s changing population and demographics,” the source said.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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