The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill approving the state's new congressional redistricting map in the lower chamber on Wednesday. The map, unveiled by Gov. Ron DeSantis, could add four congressional seats for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The vote was 83-28 in the House.
What Democratic lawmakers are saying:
"Nothing in the governor's supposed justification for this map has any meaningful addressing," Rep. Jennifer "Rita" Harris (D-Orlando) said. "The districts on this map have fewer geographical boundaries and split more cities and counties. There are no compelling state interests that justifies throwing out the previous app, which was also defended in courts with state funding."
"We are not responding to data, but to opportunity," Rep. Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs) said. "I want to talk about fair districts for a second. Voters spoke very clearly in 2010, with overwhelming over 60% support in both of those amendments. The amendments, as you know, require that maps not be drawn to favor or disfavor a political party. This map flies in the face of fair districts and the Florida voters."
"This is not how the process should work. There should be public town halls, there should be community engagement, and it should happen every 10 years, not in the middle of a decade," Rep. Anna Eskmani (D-Orlando) said. "This is unprecedented, and we should each be concerned, because you would be with your hair on fire if the shoe was on the other side of the aisle."
Notably, no Republicans debated on the proposal. Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers) sponsored the bill in the House.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where a vote is expected today.
