Redistricting

Redistricting typically happens once a decade after the U.S. census. The last round of redistricting happened in 2022.

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants an unprecedented mid-decade census to boost Florida's congressional representation. Even if that doesn't happen, he's looking at how to rework the U.S. House map anyway.

The group Common Cause said there's a risk of a "domino effect" across the country as different states consider revamping districts.

The Florida governor raised the possibility of further redistricting Thursday as Texas Republicans look to redraw districts amid a push by the Trump administration to help the GOP keep its slim control of the U.S. House.

If the plaintiffs are ultimately successful, it could lead to redrawing District 16 and other Senate districts. Districts are required to have similar population numbers, so changing the boundaries of one district would ripple into other districts.

The decision means Florida's current congressional districts that give Republicans a 20-8 advantage over Democrats will remain in place for the 2026 midterm elections and beyond.

A trial involving claims that State Senate District 16 was racially gerrymandered concluded. Although this is about one district, the anticipated decision could potentially shape Florida's future.

Voting rights groups challenging the state congressional map want the Florida Supreme Court to reinstate a district that gave Black voters in one region the chance to elect their preferred candidate.

They say the legislature wrongly assumed that South Florida's Hispanic voters are cohesive when that's no longer the case since the white majority in Florida regularly votes in coalition with the Hispanic voters.

The redrawn districts in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties were approved by legislators in 2022 and used in the election that November. They are being challenged by five residents.

Voting-rights groups and others asked the court to take up the case, which centers on a North Florida district that in the past elected Black Democrat Al Lawson but was overhauled during an April 2022 special legislative session.

Attorneys for plaintiffs filed a brief seeking a reversal of an appeal that upheld the plan, which the legislature passed in 2022.