Florida Senate President Ben Albritton responded to Gov. Ron DeSantis's plan for congressional redistricting, saying there is "no ongoing work" on the plan by the Senate in a memorandum to his colleagues this week. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a plan for congressional redistricting in an exclusive interview with The Floridian earlier this week.
"The Governor has expressed a desire to address this issue next Spring. As such, there is no ongoing work regarding potential mid-decade redistricting taking place in the Senate at this time," Albritton wrote. "As we move forward, I am continuing to monitor legal developments that could impact Florida and will certainly keep you apprised of any updates to the status I have outlined here."
In his interview, Gov. DeSantis mentioned that the plan is being delayed as the state waits on a decision by the Supreme Court about Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act that impacts Florida’s map.
Sen. Albritton advised the Senate to be prepared for possible changes.
"In the meantime, Senators should be aware that in prior cycles, significant litigation has followed passage of new maps. The Florida Supreme Court has previously limited the scope of legislative privilege when it comes to redistricting," Albritton continued.
He also warned his colleagues to be aware of possible questioning from Florida's judicial branch about conversations on redistricting.
"Sitting legislators may be compelled to produce records or be subject to questioning under oath about conversations with colleagues, with legislative staff, or with outside parties who may attempt to persuade the Legislature to pass maps that favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent," Albritton concluded.
Congressional redistricting has been a nationwide topic over the past several months, with both Republican and Democratic states contemplating redrawing their lines in an effort to gain an advantage for the critical 2026 midterm elections.
Republicans currently have a 220-seat majority in the House. The GOP's margin slightly benefited from Congressman-elect Matt Van Epps win from a special election in Tennessee earlier this week.
218 seats are needed to secure a majority, meaning Republicans and House Speaker Mike Johnson are essentially holding on for dear life until next year. If DeSantis can find a way to redistrict and add three to five more congressional seats for Republicans, it could go a long way in determining if Johnson keeps the gavel or not in 2027.
