TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his intention to call a special legislative session on congressional redistricting in the spring of 2026 during an exclusive interview with Floridian publisher Javier Manjarres.
“Yeah, yeah, so we’re going to redistrict. The issue is that there is a Supreme Court decision that we are waiting on - the argument in October about Section 2 of the VRA [Voting Rights Act] that impacts Florida’s maps, so we’re going to do it next Spring," Gov. DeSantis said. "I am going to talk to Sen. Albritton about when it makes sense to do it, but that will be done. I think we are going to be required to do it because of this court decision.”
Manjarrés: What about a special session for redistricting?
DeSantis: “We're going to do that. Oh yeah, yeah.
Manjarrés: So it's going to happen?
DeSantis: “Yeah, yeah, so we’re going to redistrict. The issue is that there is a Supreme Court decision that we are waiting on the argument in October about Section 2 of the VRA impacts Florida’s maps, so we’re going to do it next Spring. I am going to talk to Sen. Albritton about when it makes sense to do, but that will be done. I think we are going to be required to do it because of this court decision.”
When asked if he would call the special session on redistricting between March and May of 2026, Gov. DeSantis said that he would “work with them on it to see how we do it,” adding that he believes,” Yeah, that is the case.”
In September, House Speaker Danny Perez announced that 11 representatives would serve on a select committee to redraw Florida's congressional map, which already heavily favors state Republicans.
Rep. Mike Redondo (R-Miami) was named chairman of the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting, which includes seven other Republicans and three Democrats.
The first redistricting meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4.
Congressional redistricting has been a hot-button topic under President Donald Trump in anticipation of the critical 2026 midterm elections. The political gamesmanship has also filtered to other states, including Texas, where its redistricting case is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court after being granted a temporary stay following a lower court's decision to block it, citing evidence of racial gerrymandering.
Other states are playing the GOP's move as well, including Democratic ones.
In California, voters passed Proposition 50, which will allow leaders of its congressional commission to redraw lines to a state that already heavily favors Democrats. The political chess game between Texas and California, and now possibly Florida, could have tremendous implications on who controls the House of Representatives after the election next November.
