DeSantis faces lawsuit over special session to redraw Florida congressional map

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing a lawsuit that challenges whether he can call a special legislative session to redraw Florida’s congressional map in the middle of the decade, a move that the plaintiffs argue must be decided by lawmakers rather than the governor. The complaint was filed Thursday with the Florida Supreme Court, supported by the National Redistricting Foundation, a voting-rights group, according to the Associated Press account of the filing.

The lawsuit focuses on a proclamation DeSantis issued last month announcing a special session in April for redistricting, with the plaintiffs arguing that the proclamation violates the Florida constitution’s separation of powers doctrine. The complaint says the governor can request a special session but cannot compel the Legislature to carry out what the lawsuit describes as a legally unnecessary reapportionment.

The dispute is set against a broader national pattern of mid-decade redistricting efforts that plaintiffs and opponents have increasingly treated as politically consequential. The AP report said DeSantis’ proclamation places Florida into a redistricting “arms race” like those being pursued by other states that have redrawn districts mid-decade.

As described in the lawsuit, Republicans control 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional seats. The complaint argues that congressional districts redrawn to favor Republicans could shape outcomes for President Donald Trump’s plan to reshape congressional districts in GOP-led states, which the filing says could influence midterm elections and the GOP’s ability to retain control of the U.S. House.

The filing also places Florida’s litigation in context of other states where mid-decade redistricting has become part of the political fight over congressional seats. Nationwide, the AP report said the mid-decade battle has produced a net of nine additional seats Republicans believe they can win in places including Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, while Democrats expect a net of six additional seats to win in California and Utah.

The lawsuit points to Florida’s own constitutional history on districting. In 2010, more than 60% of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment aimed at prohibiting drawing district boundaries to unfairly favor a political party, and the AP report said the Florida Supreme Court last July upheld a congressional map pushed by DeSantis that critics said violated the “Fair Districts” amendment.

The complaint names DeSantis and Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd as defendants, and it describes Byrd as issuing a directive to county supervisors of elections to implement rules that apply only in years when Florida districts are redrawn. The lawsuit asks the state’s highest court to require DeSantis to prove he has authority to call a special session for redistricting and, if he cannot, to declare his redistricting proclamation unenforceable.

In a statement attributed to the lawsuit, the complaint argues that “The decision over whether and when to reapportion Florida’s congressional districts belongs to the Legislature.” It adds that “While the Governor is entitled to call for a special session, he has no power to bind the Legislature into carrying out his preferred policy objectives by undergoing a legally unnecessary reapportionment.” DeSantis’ office did not respond to an emailed inquiry seeking comment, the AP reported.