DeSantis calls April special session to redraw Florida's congressional districts

Florida’s move adds to a nationwide mid-decade redistricting effort that has already produced maps Republicans believe could net them nine additional congressional seats across Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. Critics — including the Florida Senate’s top Democrat — said the plan violates the state’s own Fair Districts constitutional amendment, which more than 60 percent of Florida voters approved in 2010 to prohibit partisan gerrymandering.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he plans to call a special legislative session in April for the Republican-dominated Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts, joining a multi-state redistricting push backed by President Donald Trump that could affect control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterms. DeSantis, speaking at a news conference in Steinhatchee, Florida, said he wanted to wait for an expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a key provision of the Voting Rights Act before proceeding with new maps.

Florida’s announcement adds to a nationwide mid-decade redistricting effort spanning Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, California, and Utah. Critics — including the Florida Senate’s top Democrat — said the plan violates the state’s own Fair Districts constitutional amendment, which more than 60 percent of Florida voters approved in 2010 to prohibit partisan gerrymandering.

Waiting on the Supreme Court

DeSantis said he plans to bypass the regular legislative session, which begins next week, and instead convene the special session in April. He cited a pending ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the Supreme Court could determine whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — the provision that bars discrimination in voting systems — is constitutional. DeSantis said “at least one or two” Florida districts could be affected by whatever the court decides.

“I don’t think it’s a question of if they’re going to rule. It’s a question of what the scope is going to be,” DeSantis said. “So, we’re getting out ahead of that.”

Republicans currently hold 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional seats.

A Nationwide Redistricting Race

Florida’s move is part of a broader mid-decade effort, driven in part by Trump’s push to reshape congressional maps in states where Republicans control the Legislature. Nationwide, that effort has so far produced maps Republicans believe could net them nine additional seats in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. Democrats expect to gain six seats through new maps in California and Utah, leaving Republicans with a projected net gain of three seats nationally. Litigation is ongoing in several states, and there is no guarantee the maps will hold or that either party will win the targeted seats.

Fair Districts Amendment

In 2010, more than 60 percent of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the drawing of district boundaries to unfairly favor one political party, a practice known as gerrymandering. The Florida Supreme Court upheld a DeSantis-backed congressional map last July despite critics arguing it violated that amendment. Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced in August the creation of a select committee to examine the state’s congressional map.

Opposition

Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman said in a statement that the plan is illegal under the Fair Districts Amendment.

“Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment strictly prohibits any maps from being drawn for partisan reasons, and regardless of any bluster from the governor’s office, the only reason we’re having this unprecedented conversation about drawing new maps is because Donald Trump demanded it,” Berman said. “An overwhelming majority of Floridians voted in favor of the Fair Districts Amendment and their voices must be respected. The redistricting process is meant to serve the people, not the politicians.”

The Florida Democratic Party called the move “reckless, partisan and opportunistic.”

Expert Analysis

Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida, said Florida already has a fairly strong Republican gerrymander, making it difficult for Republicans to pick up additional seats without drawing irregular, elongated districts — and then holding elections before a court can intervene. McDonald said DeSantis could also be trying to shore up existing Republican strongholds against typical midterm losses.

“Trump’s approval ratings are pretty low,” McDonald said. “And so looking at what we would expect to happen in November, unless something fundamentally changes in the country between now and then, we expect the Democrats to have a very good year.”