Florida Lawmakers passed the new Congressional map which cuts Democratic leaning districts from eight to four.
"In Central Florida and South Florida is that their voice is being diminished and they are losing representation," said House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell. She anticipates this map will be challenged in court, claiming illegal partisan gerrymandering.
Bill sponsor Jenna Persons-Mulicka says the map is based on 2020 data and repeatedly stressed she couldn't speak on the map drawer's intent.
"I believe that there is a likelihood that that map will be upheld against legal challenges," Persons-Mulicka.
The House vote tally was 83-28. The Senate voted 21-17 in favor.
SCOTUS Rules Louisiana Must Redraw Congressional Map
(Washington, DC) -- Louisiana will have to redraw its Congressional map after a Supreme Court ruling. The high court struck down a map that included a second majority black congressional district. The case was centered around how much race can be considered when lawmakers redraw districts. Black voters sued the state in 2022 after the state legislature created a new Congressional map after the 2020 census that included just one black majority district. Black residents make up around a third of Louisiana's population.
In response, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) issued the following statement:
“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.
I am disappointed for our constituents that Republican politicians in Tallahassee chose to waste taxpayer dollars on a political stunt that will hurt Floridians instead of focusing on practical solutions to solve the real affordability issues impacting their lives.
Republican leadership in Tallahassee continues to focus on partisan games and they are not shy to show it. House Republicans cheered at the destruction of democracy while Democrats fought to defend it.
In a democracy, process matters and what we witnessed during this special session was an abuse of the process from the fact that the map was leaked on Fox News to the fact that the legislature gave away its power to the Governor. That doesn’t seem like checks and balances to me.
Voting rights are now less secure in Florida. Tallahassee Republicans need to stop moving us backwards.”
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The Florida Democratic Party issued a statement as well:
“The Voting Rights Act ended Jim Crow. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed Republicans a roadmap to dilute the voting power of Black and Latino Americans nationwide.
Six Republican-appointed justices have gutted one of the most powerful tools minority communities have used for decades to fight discriminatory maps, turning partisan goals into a shield for racial discrimination. People fought, bled, and died for these protections. Today’s decision by SCOTUS dishonors that sacrifice.
But in Florida, there is still a wall Republicans cannot get past: the Fair Districts amendment, written into our state constitution by voters. Ron DeSantis and his allies are already trying to use today’s SCOTUS ruling as cover for their own illegal, partisan power grab. It will not work here.
The Court may have rewritten federal law, but it does not have the power to rewrite Florida’s Constitution. Florida Democrats will use every tool available under our state constitution to fight these illegal maps and stop this power grab. And we will make clear to every voter in this state: while Washington weakens your protections, Florida Democrats are fighting to hold the line.”