Florida Republicans are more and more pushing to redraw the state’s congressional strains following a similar move by the Texas GOP.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) stated Wednesday he’s “very significantly” asking the state Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional map, arguing the 2020 census is flawed.
Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.) got here out in favor of redistricting in a submit on social platform X, writing that “Texas can do it, the Free State of Florida can do it 10X higher.”
Florida Republicans say they had been already headed on this path following a state Supreme Courtroom determination that upheld a congressional map supported by DeSantis and state Republicans.
However the plan is gaining much more traction within the wake of Texas Republicans’ unveiling of a brand new congressional map.
“It’s choosing up steam,” Florida GOP Chair Evan Energy instructed The Hill. “We had been in all probability heading there with the courtroom determination, however Texas made it prime information.”
Florida has seen an uptick in inhabitants development following the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
The state has additionally change into solidly Republican over the previous decade, with Republicans rising their illustration in Congress and once-Democratic strongholds like Miami-Dade and Osceola counties flipping from blue to purple.
Various Democratic-held congressional seats could possibly be impacted if redistricting had been to happen, together with these held in south Florida by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz and Lois Frankel. Rep. Kathy Castor (D) within the Tampa space and Rep. Darren Soto (D) exterior of Orlando have additionally been floated as attainable targets.
Florida Republicans already maintain a 20 to eight benefit over Democrats within the congressional delegation.
Republicans had been boosted final month when the state’s Supreme Courtroom dominated to uphold a congressional map that blocked a problem to the elimination of a majority-Black congressional district within the north of the state that beforehand was represented by former Rep. Al Lawson (D). The realm that comprised the previous congressional district is now divided amongst three Republican lawmakers.
However DeSantis is just not stopping there.
The governor has argued that Florida acquired a “uncooked deal” within the 2020 census when the state solely gained one congressional seat. The governor stated final month he had relayed his considerations to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick after he was sworn in earlier this yr and that the Trump administration could possibly be pursuing redoing the census.
Moreover, the governor stated he believes Florida’s Truthful District amendments, which a majority of voters accredited of in 2010, may battle with the U.S. Structure. The amendments say that districts can’t be drawn in a approach that hinders minorities voting for his or her selection of elected representatives.
“There’s lots of people who imagine that the Truthful District Amendments is unconstitutional, as a result of what it does is, it mandates having race predominate,” DeSantis stated this week. “Whereas, neutrality ought to actually be the constitutional commonplace.”
Patronis additionally stated in his X submit that he believes the Truthful District Amendments are unconstitutional “as a result of it violates freedom of speech AND elections are a states rights subject.”
“Time so as to add extra conservatives to Congress, so we will higher ship on President Trump’s agenda, lastly win the struggle in opposition to woke, reduce authorities waste, and create an economic system that strikes our nation into a brand new age of prosperity,” Patronis stated.
Republicans argue that DeSantis and the state’s Republicans could possibly be setting an instance for different purple states to observe.
“DeSantis right here sees a possibility to be a trailblazer for the Republican Get together on this sense in that he could possibly be establishing a pilot program that Texas and a few of the different states can truly observe,” a Florida Republican strategist stated.
“Let’s not disillusion ourselves, if he pulls this off, he shall be a fan favourite of 1 one who sits at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” the strategist added, referring to Trump.
Thus far, Republicans within the Florida state Legislature have remained publicly quiet in regards to the prospect of pursuing redistricting. This yr’s state legislative session was prolonged from 60 days to 105 days and noticed tensions emerge between DeSantis and members of his personal get together.
State Rep. Alex Andrade, a vocal Republican critic of DeSantis, stated he has not spoken to his colleagues about redistricting. The state lawmaker famous he would help the hassle provided that the census was redone.
“I get the partisan argument,” Andrade instructed The Hill. “I perceive we may make hay proper now and profit Republicans however in some unspecified time in the future do I care extra about my get together or the Structure?”
“If the census had been redone, I’d bounce throughout it,” he stated.
Florida Democrats warn {that a} transfer by DeSantis and the state’s Republicans would set a destructive precedent.
“It will imply that the governor and the state legislative department would fully capitulate underneath Donald Trump,” state Home Minority Chief Fentrice Driskell (D) stated. “It’s not alleged to be that the president will get to behave like a king and say ‘do that on my behalf.’”
In a Fb video posted by Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Soto accused Republicans of eager to cheat within the election.
“They need to decide their voters moderately than voters choosing their representatives,” he stated. “You’ll see us do no matter we will within the courts to make it possible for the Truthful Districts Amendments are enforced.”
Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee spokesperson Madison Andrus dismissed the hassle from Florida Republicans as “a bold-faced try to save lots of their flailing midterm efficiency by rigging the sport.”
The hassle comes because the nationwide redistricting struggle heats up and each events search to achieve seats forward of subsequent yr’s midterm elections.
Along with Republicans in Texas and probably Florida looking at redistricting, Democrats in states like California and New Jersey are additionally exploring their choices.
“There’s a possibility and if it higher displays the make-up of a state whether or not that’s Texas or Florida, or to Gavin Newsom’s level even California, then it’s best to do it,” a nationwide Republican strategist stated.
“These redistricting efforts, in the event that they adjust to the legislation and meet the entire numerous federal thresholds to get mapped by way of, in the event you do this and do it shortly, you’re going to extend the probability that the president and Republicans in Washington and going to have the ability to preserve pushing issues ahead,” the strategist continued.