Democrats Dealt Redistricting Blow in Florida as Texas GOP Plans Redraw

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday handed a win to Republicans, ruling the state’s current congressional map, lambasted by Democrats as a gerrymander, can stand ahead of the 2026 midterms.

A Democratic National Committee (DNC) spokesperson told Newsweek the party is “disappointed that the Court rendered the Florida Constitution powerless to protect Black voters, rather than protecting their rights.”

Newsweek also reached out to the Florida Democratic and Republican parties for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Mid-decade redistricting could have key implications for the midterms, as Texas Republicans appear poised to redraw their state’s districts following support from President Donald Trump. In response, Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom has said his state could redraw its maps to benefit his party.

Democrats hoped legal challenges against Florida’s map could yield them one new seat in the midterms, but Thursday’s ruling means the current map will hold—a victory for Republicans. Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in the midterms, so Republicans are likely to find themselves on the defense next year.

What To Know

In a 5-1 decision, the Florida Supreme Court rejected the challenge by a voting rights group, which argued the state’s congressional districts diminished Black voters’ influence and were in violation of the state’s Fair Districts Amendment (FDA).

During redistricting, state lawmakers broke up a district that spanned from Tallahassee to Jacksonville intended to give Black voters from those areas an opportunity to have a representative. The map that went into effect in 2022 drew Tallahassee into its own district, while splitting Jacksonville into two separate ones.

Florida redistricting ruling — The Florida Supreme Court building is pictured in Tallahassee on November 10, 2018.

Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images

Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz wrote in the majority opinion that “the federal Equal Protection Clause prohibits the racially gerrymandered district that the plaintiffs demand.”

“The plaintiffs’ claim is straightforward: the congressional districting plan in effect before the Enacted Plan included a North Florida district in which black voters were able ‘to elect representatives of their choice,’ as our Court has interpreted that phrase in the FDA; now, under the Enacted Plan, there is no North Florida district in which black voters (as a politically cohesive group) have that ability,” the ruling reads.

Justice Jorge Labarga was the lone dissent. He wrote that the court should have sent the case back to trial.

Republicans at the moment represent 20 of the state’s 28 districts. None of the state’s northernmost seats are viewed as being competitive in the midterms, though a GOP-held seat in Pinellas County and a South Florida Democratic-held seat could be contested, according to the Cook Political Report.

Texas, California Congressional Redraws: The Latest

As Republicans attempt to thwart midterm losses, Trump said this week he would like to see the Texas redraw give Republicans five new seats.

In Texas, there are currently two Democrats representing Trump-won districts in the southernmost part of the state, a Hispanic-heavy area that shifted toward Republicans over the past decade. The GOP might also target Democratic seats in suburbs of cities like Dallas and Houston.

The Texas Legislature is set to begin a special session on July 21 to consider the redistricting plans. Newsom responded in a post to X, formerly Twitter, writing, “Two can play this game.”

California Democrats may face legal challenges in redrawing their map, as the state has an independent redistricting commission.

What People Are Saying

DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman told Newsweek: “[Governor] Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans’ 2022 Congressional redistricting plan deliberately destroyed a district where Black voters could elect their preferred candidates. The Florida Supreme Court unanimously acknowledged that fact but still upheld the map. The DNC is disappointed that the Court rendered the Florida Constitution powerless to protect Black voters, rather than protecting their rights.”

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried wrote in a statement: “The Florida Supreme Court just greenlit Ron DeSantis’ political power grab — one that strips Black voters in North Florida of their power. This ruling violates the Fair Districts Amendment, passed by Florida voters to protect minority representation and keep partisan gerrymandering in check.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X: “This was always the constitutionally correct map — and now both the federal courts and the FL Supreme Court have upheld it.”

The National Redistricting Foundation wrote in a statement: “The Florida Supreme Court’s refusal to enforce state law, allowing an unconstitutional map to remain in place, is alarming. The court is abandoning the most basic role of the judiciary: to provide justice for the people. This decision shamefully dismisses the fact that the state’s map actively diminishes the voting power of Black Floridians – a fact agreed to on record by Florida’s Secretary of State, the Florida House of Representatives, and the Florida Senate. Make no mistake, the fight for fair maps in Florida is far from over.”