House Speaker Danny "Daniel" Perez (R-Miami) announced eleven state representatives that will be part of a new select committee to redraw Florida's congressional map, potentially creating a more favorable opportunity for Republicans as they look to maintain control of Congress after the upcoming midterm elections.
Rep. Mike Redondo (R-Miami) was named chairman of the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting, which includes seven other Republicans and three Democrats.
Redondo, a Perez ally, is in line to be Florida's next Speaker of the House in 2030. Perez was allegedly largely involved in making that happen for Redondo, a freshman lawmaker and a personal injury attorney out of Miami.
Other members of the select committee include:
- Rep. Jessica Baker (R-Jacksonville)
- Rep. Kim Berfield (R-Clearwater)
- Rep. Nan Cobb (R-Eustis)
- Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R-Highland Beach)
- Rep. Patt Maney (R-Shalimar)
- Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers)
- Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton)
- Rep. Bruce Antone (D-Orlando)
- Rep. Kevin Chambliss (D-Homestead)
- Rep. Johanna López (D-Orlando)
The announcement comes after the Texas state legislature voted to redraw its congressional lines last month. Florida could be trying to mimic Texas when the committee meets in the fall.
Florida currently has 20 Republicans and eight Democrats in Congress. A redistricting shift presumably to the GOP would likely have major implications on the Hill, where the GOP holds a slim 7-seat majority with four vacancies.
A recent New York Times analysis detailed that any change from Florida would likely force Democrats to work a little harder to flip control of the House next year.
The move would also likely help President Donald Trump from becoming a rubber stamp in the last two years of his presidency. Congressional control has historically flipped to the opposition party in midterm elections.
President George W. Bush was the last president to hold the House during his first term in 2002. Before that, it was Bill Clinton in 1998 and Franklin Delano Roosevelt way back in 1934.
