DeSantis’ Office Calls District 5 ‘Unlawful Gerrymander’

As Florida goes through the redistricting process ahead of the 2022 midterm election, Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) office has taken issue with Florida’s 5^th congressional district. Calling it an “unconstitutional gerrymander,” Florida Rep. Al Lawson (D) is the representative of that district.

Gov. DeSantis's comments come as draft congressional maps are being discussed in the Florida Legislature.

DeSantis's office offered a proposed congressional redistricting map submitted by Ryan Newman, the General Counsel for the Governor’s office.

After submitting the map, Newman issued a statement to the media, arguing that DeSantis’ office had “legal concerns with the congressional redistricting maps under consideration in the Legislature.”

In an email, Christina Pushaw, Governor DeSantis’ Press Secretary, provides further information regarding the concerns the Governor’s office shares concerning the district.

Pushaw explains that “our map performs better than many of the legislative maps on Tier 2 constitutional requirements including compactness and preservation of boundaries, all while increasing the number of federally protected minority districts.”

“The northern Florida district is unconstitutional gerrymander that unnaturally connects communities in Jacksonville with communities hours away in Tallahassee and Gadsden counties,” Pushaw added, commenting that by eliminating “this flagrant gerrymander. We believe our map is within constitutional requirements and performs better than the other maps on Tier 2 constitutional requirements, including compactness and preservation of boundaries, all while increasing the number of minority districts.”

In response, Rep. Lawson condemned the Governor’s office, commenting that “it is evident… DeSantis is trying to restrict minority representation, specifically African American voters.”