When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced his congressional redistricting map last weekend, it put the Florida Legislature on notice as to what he expected to see come out from the group.
The Senate redistricting map that recently passed by a 16-12 vote margin is widely considered to be a "weak" measure, while the latest House map, and DeSantis's map, are considered very aggressive and pro-Republican, but is also being called a "blackout" map to "silence the voices of black voters."
State Senator Audrey Gibson (D) believes Governor DeSantis's map would reduce "minority representation in a gerrymandered map."
"Black voters matter is not just a saying, it's a fact and one has only to look at the grossly unconstitutional congressional district map recently put forth by the governor," stated Sen. Gibson. The "blackout" map is a blatant attempt to silence the voices of black voters at the ballot box while invoking the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who fought FOR civil rights. Reducing minority representation is a gerrymandered map is neither civil nor right."
After Florida Senators ignored Gov. DeSantis's map, the governor's office put out this statement shortly after the Senate passed their redistricting map:
“We have submitted an alternative proposal, which we can support, that adheres to federal and state requirements and addresses our legal concerns, while working to increase district compactness, minimize county splits where feasible, and protect minority voting populations. Because the Governor must approve any congressional map passed by the Legislature, we wanted to provide our proposal as soon as possible and in a transparent manner.”
