Florida Governor Signs New Congressional Map After Supreme Court Ruling, Lawsuit

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on Monday enacting a new congressional map that could expand Republican representation in the U.S. House by four seats. The move came hours before a group of Democratic voters and a voting rights organization filed a lawsuit challenging the map's constitutionality.

Multiple sources reported the map would shift the state's delegation from a 20-8 Republican advantage to 24-4. The lawsuit, filed in Florida's 2nd Judicial Court, argues the redistricting violates the state's Fair Districts Amendment by engaging in partisan gerrymandering.

Plaintiffs, including the National Redistricting Foundation and the Elias Law Group representing the Equal Ground Education Fund and individual voters, seek to block the map and reinstate the 2022 version or adopt a new compliant plan for the 2026 elections.

The complaint names Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and the state legislature as defendants.

DeSantis announced the signing on X, posting "Signed, Sealed, and Delivered" with an image of the new map. The Florida House passed the map 83-28 and the Senate 21-17 last Wednesday during a special session called by the governor. The redistricting aims to reflect population growth and comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling, according to statements from DeSantis.

The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, written by Justice Samuel Alito, restricted the use of race in redistricting under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. DeSantis stated on X that the ruling implicated a Florida district, which the new map corrects by unwinding what he described as a racially gerrymandered area.

The decision has prompted similar redraws in other Southern states, including Louisiana, with Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee considering changes.

“Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 … was designed to enforce the Constitution — not collide with it. Unfortunately, lower courts have sometimes applied this Court’s §2 precedents in a way that forces States to engage in the very race-based discrimination that the Constitution forbids." — Justice Samuel Alito, Louisiana v. Based on recent presidential election results, these districts now lean Republican, potentially erasing Democratic seats in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami areas. DeSantis has argued the map was drawn in a race-neutral manner, responding to population shifts and the Supreme Court decision. In contrast, the lawsuit claims the legislature ignored constitutional prohibitions on partisan favoritism, with plaintiffs noting no constitutional amendment allowed mid-decade redistricting for gain. The map consolidates GOP-leaning areas while isolating Democratic strongholds to major metro regions. Florida's actions follow similar redistricting in other states ahead of the 2026 midterms, including California, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. In Virginia, voters approved a measure allowing the Democratic-led legislature to redraw maps, potentially shifting to a 10-1 Democratic advantage, pending court review. DeSantis cited this as an offset to potential Democratic gains elsewhere.”

The redistricting push began last summer, with DeSantis announcing plans in January for a special session. The governor linked the effort to ensuring maps reflect Florida's population and anticipate the Supreme Court ruling. During legislative proceedings, a Democratic state representative attempted to disrupt approval by shouting on the House floor with a bullhorn, highlighting tensions.

The new map takes effect immediately and could influence the 2026 midterm elections. Sources differ slightly on details, but all confirm the potential for four additional Republican seats.

“The decision implicates a district in FL — the legal infirmities of which have been corrected in the newly-drawn (and soon to be enacted) map.”

The lawsuit seeks to bar implementation, arguing the state made no effort to amend its constitution before pursuing partisan redistricting. DeSantis's office has not commented on the suit, but the governor previously defended the map as vindicated by the Supreme Court opinion.

This development is part of broader national redistricting battles sparked in Texas last year. Other states altering maps in light of the Callais decision include South Carolina. The ruling emphasized that Section 2 should not force race-based discrimination, overturning prior lower court interpretations.

Florida's former map was signed by DeSantis four years ago, and the new version addresses a specific district previously held by a representative who resigned earlier this month. Democrats dispute the race-neutral claim, citing how Hispanic voters in Central Florida were split across districts.

The four at-risk representatives have expressed intent to seek re-election, with some considering adjusted districts. Overall, the map redraws boundaries to create additional Republican-favored seats amid ongoing legal scrutiny.