DeSantis signs Florida congressional redistricting map into law

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s new congressional map is now official.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on X.com that he signed the redistricting bill lawmakers passed last week with a simple post showing the map, with the words “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered.”

The new map redraws a number of districts, particularly in Central Florida, the Tampa area, and South Florida.

DeSantis pushed for the mid-decade redistricting for a few reasons.

1. He said the influx of new residents after the 2020 Census necessitated a new map.
2. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais would end drawing maps to favor minority representation.

However, another reason is that President Trump called on Republican states to redraw congressional maps to better favor Republicans and hopefully hold onto the U.S. House majority in the midterm elections in November.

[INTERACTIVE: Slide the middle bar to see how the district map would change if approved]

The map, which DeSantis’ office drew, seeks to remove several Democratic majority districts and maximize Republican majority districts in the state.

For instance, the new map redraws U.S. House District 9, a majority Hispanic district, so that it now stretches from Orange County down to Glades County, adding more registered Republicans.

The map is expected to come under legal scrutiny from several groups, however, because critics say it flies in the face of Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment, which was overwhelmingly passed in 2010. That amendment to the Florida Constitution says maps cannot be drawn to favor an incumbent or a political party.

[POLITICALLY MOTIVATED: Florida’s special session on redistricting]