Opponents of new Florida congressional districts face uphill legal battle
By Jeffrey Schweers
Published on May 3, 2026.
The fight over Florida's redistricting efforts is heading to court, with Democrats and voting rights groups planning to file lawsuits challenging the new congressional map as an illegal and unconstitutional gerrymandering based on political considerations. The new map significantly diluted the voting strength of minority communities, with District 9, a once compact Hispanic majority seat that leaned Democrat, now represented by Democrat Darren Soto. However, it is a long shot if any legal arguments against the map win over a deeply conservative Florida Supreme Court, six of whom were appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Supreme Court's recent decision in a Louisiana voting case is likely to support an argument to nullify Fair Districts, which Florida voters approved in 2010. The map eliminates four Democrat-leaning districts, including Soto's, and could shift the balance of the Florida delegation even more red.
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