TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court will not step into a lawsuit challenging the state’s newly drawn congressional districts, the court said Wednesday.
In an opinion published Wednesday afternoon, the justices said they lack jurisdiction over the Equal Ground Education Fund’s lawsuit against the state of Florida. The court also declined to use its “all writs” power as a workaround while the case remains pending before the First District Court of Appeal.
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What Equal Ground is Arguing
Equal Ground Education Fund claims the map was drawn to give Republicans an advantage in U.S. House races during the midterm elections. The group pointed to statements from Jason Poreda — a DeSantis aide who drew the districts — who acknowledged using partisan data during the process.
Florida’s constitution bars drawing districts with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent. Voters enshrined that protection in 2010 through a ballot measure known as the Fair Districts Amendment.
The Redistricting Fight Behind the Map
Lawmakers passed the new map as a partisan redistricting battle played out across the country. President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to draw new maps to help the GOP hold the U.S. House, which Republicans narrowly control and could lose if Democrats pick up a handful of seats in the midterm elections.
Texas was the first state to act on Trump’s call. Democratic-led states, including California, responded with their own new maps drawn to favor their party.
Before the map was submitted to the Legislature, DeSantis’ office sent it to Fox News. The map, based on 2024 election results, showed Republicans potentially gaining four seats in Florida, according to that analysis.
Deadline Looms
Qualifying for U.S. House seats closes June 12 at noon.
The partisan context behind the map and the national redistricting climate were not addressed in the lower court’s ruling.