Judge Upholds Florida's Congressional District Map Ahead of 2026 Election
The judge said he could not yet weigh the challenge on the merits, leaving a map that could cut Florida Democrats’ House seats in half.
- On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes of Tallahassee ruled that Florida's newly drawn congressional districts will remain intact, rejecting voting rights groups' push to temporarily block the map drawn by an aide for Gov. Ron DeSantis and passed by the GOP-led Legislature.
- Equal Ground Florida sued on May 4 claiming the map was intentionally drawn to favor Republicans, alleging that DeSantis aide Jason Poreda used partisan data during the process after President Trump urged GOP-led states to redraw maps favoring Republicans.
- The redrawn map gives Republicans advantage in 24 of 28 congressional districts compared to the previous map where Democrats held eight, potentially reducing Democratic representation from eight U.S. House seats to four, with 21 of Florida's 28 districts redrawn.
- Hawkes cited election timing, writing that 'the public interest weighs more in favor of certainty than a haphazard judicial mandate of discarded maps,' while DeSantis posted 'Let's roll!' and Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power celebrated the outcome.
- Opponents plan to escalate the case to the Florida Supreme Court while the map remains in place, with Common Cause Florida executive director Amy Keith vowing to 'exhaust all legal options' to ensure 'a map this partisan does not last the rest of this decade.
16 Articles
16 Articles
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. Florida Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes, an appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), denied requests from multiple groups to pause implementation of the map, which is expected to strengthen Republican advantages in several districts. “The primary is less than th…
Sun-Sentinel
Redrawn Florida congressional map upheld ahead of midterms
Florida’s newly drawn congressional districts will remain intact, a Tallahassee judge ruled Tuesday. Voting groups vowed to keep fighting.
DeSantis-Appointed Judge Okays New FL House Map
Democracy Docket reports: A judge appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has cleared the way for Florida to use its new congressional map — drawn by DeSantis’ office — in the 2026 midterm elections, despite what plaintiffs called “staggering” evidence that it violates the state’s voter-approved ban on partisan gerrymandering. In his order, Judge Joshua Hawkes of Florida’s Second Circuit Court concluded that, pulled between the state’s ban on partisa…
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