(Hill) – Florida Republicans are increasingly pushing to redraw the state’s legislative boundaries following a similar move by the Texas GOP.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Wednesday he was considering asking the state legislature to redraw the map of the state legislature, claiming the 2020 census was flawed.
Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FLA.) came out in support of rezoning in a post on Social Platform X, writing that “Texas can make it, and Florida can have 10 times better freedom.”
Florida Republicans say they are already heading in this direction following a state Supreme Court decision that upheld a map of Congress supported by DeSantis and state Republicans.
But the plan is gaining even more momentum as Texas Republicans unveiled a new map of Congress.
“We’re picking up steam,” Evan Power, a GOP chair in Florida, told the hill. “We were probably heading there towards a court decision, but Texas made it the top news.”
Florida has seen an increase in population growth in 2020 following the coronavirus pandemic.
The state has become a solid Republican over the past decade. Republicans have increased their representation in Congress, turning blue to red from once-democratic hubs and democratic hubs like Miami-Dade and Osceola County.
Any changes to districts, including those held in South Florida by Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz and Lois Frankel, could affect democratic Congressional seats. Tampa area Rep. Kathy Caster (D) and Darren Soto (D) outside Orlando also float as possible targets.
Florida Republicans already hold 20 to 8 advantages over Democrats in Congressional delegation.
Republicans were boosted last month when the state’s Supreme Court ruled that it would support a map of Congress that prevented the challenge to remove the majority black congressional districts in the northern state, previously represented by former Rep. Al Lawson (D). The area, which consists of the former Congressional District, is currently divided into three Republican lawmakers.
But Desantis doesn’t stop there.
The governor claimed that Florida had obtained a “raw contract” at the 2020 census. The governor last month spoke of concern to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick after he was sworn in earlier this year, saying the Trump administration could redo the census.
Furthermore, the governor said in 2010 he believed the majority of voters could contradict the US Constitution. The amendment states that districts cannot be drawn in a way that prevents minorities voting for the choice of elected representatives.
“There are many people who believe that fair district amendments are unconstitutional because what they do is mandate that race is dominant,” DeSantis said this week. “Neutrality, on the other hand, really should be the constitutional standard.”
Patronis also said in his X-Post that he considers fair district amendments to be unconstitutional, “as it violates free speech and elections are a matter of state rights.”
“It’s time to add conservatives to Congress, so we can better bring President Trump’s agenda, win the war that has finally woken up, cut down government waste, and create an economy that will move our country into a new era of prosperity,” Patronis said.
Republicans argue that DeSantis and the state’s Republicans may be setting an example that other red states should follow.
“DeSantis here is seeing the opportunity to be a Republican pioneer in this sense and we can set up a pilot program that Texas and some of the other states can actually follow,” said the Florida Republican strategist.
“Don’t disillusion yourself. If he pulls this off, he’ll be a favorite of one fan sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” the strategist added, referring to Trump.
So far, Republicans in the Florida Legislature have been openly quiet about their prospects for pursuing their districts. This year’s state legislative meeting was extended from 60 days to 105 days, creating tensions between Desantis and his own party members.
State Senator Alex Andrade, a Republican critic of DeSantis’ voice, said he hadn’t spoken to his colleagues about rezoning. State lawmakers noted that they would only support the effort if the census was redoubted.
“I get partisan debate,” Andredo told Hill. “We now understand that we can make hay and benefit Republicans, but at some point I’m more concerned about my party and the constitution?”
“If the census is being redoed, I’ll jump over it,” he said.
Florida Democrats warn that moves by DeSantis and the state Republicans will set a negative precedent.
“That would mean the governor and the state legislative division will surrender completely under Donald Trump,” said Fentris Driskel, D., the state capitol minority leader. “The president should not be acting like a king and say, ‘I’ll do this for me.’ ”
In a Facebook video posted by Rep. Melanie Stansbury (DN.M.), Soto accused Republicans of fraudulent elections.
“They want to choose voters rather than voters choose representatives,” he said. “We know we’ll do everything we can in court to ensure that fair district amendments are in effect.”
Madison Andras, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, dismissed the efforts from Florida Republicans as “a bold-faced attempt to save their fiery midterm performance by rigging the game.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Rails will need to wear “big girl pants” for ice recruitment tactics, Christinem says.
The effort comes as wars in national constituencies are heated and both parties are looking to win seats ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
In addition to looking into Texas Republicans and potentially Florida rezonings, Democrats in states like California and New Jersey are also exploring options.
“There’s an opportunity. If it’s Texas or Florida or California, whether it’s Gavin Newsom’s point, it’s better to reflect the composition of the nation,” the National Republican strategist said.
“These efforts will increase the likelihood that Washington’s president and Republicans will continue to keep things moving forward if they are compliant with the law and meet all the different federal thresholds, if they do so quickly and immediately.
