Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) pushed back on the notion that Black Americans would be disenfranchised by this week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down Louisiana's congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
"There's not been an instance in our country [in the] last 40 years where black people were disenfranchised by congressional lines or even being able to vote," Donalds said while speaking to reporters on Thursday. "And that was the essence of the 65 Voting Rights Act: to make sure that black people were not being disenfranchised from being able to cast ballots and have representation in Washington, D.C.
The 6-3 vote, based on Louisiana v. Callais, ruled that the state's map relied too heavily on race in drawing district lines, weakening the Voting Rights Act.
Rep. Donalds, the Republican frontrunner in the gubernatorial race, agreed.
"If you're going to look at it in terms of what's happening in America today or in America over the last generation, in America, it's crystal clear that the issues, the gross, disgusting issues that brought about the need for real change in the 65 Voting Rights Act does not exist today," Donalds added.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who Rep. Donalds is looking to replace, also praised the ruling on social media on Wednesday. Furthermore, the decision was praised by the Republican Party of Florida, where the court's decision could help Congressional Republicans in November's midterm elections.
The Florida Legislature approved the state's redrawn congressional map, aided by the Supreme Court's ruling, on Wednesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis argued the decision invalidated Florida's Fair Districting Amendments, which were designed to prohibit partisan gerrymandering and protect minority voting rights.
Notably, Florida voters approved Fair Districting Amendments in 2010.
With the decision settled and Florida's new map landing on Gov. DeSantis' desk, Republicans could gain four congressional seats in the November midterm. The ruling could also have ramifications in other states in the South, and help Republicans keep their majority with Democrats on the offensive.
