The Florida Supreme Court has rejected a legal challenge from voting rights groups who sought to block Gov.Ron DeSantis’ newly drawn congressional maps from being used during the 2026 midterm elections.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The challengers, which included Equal Ground Florida, argued that the maps should not be used during the midterms because they alleged the new lines violate the state’s so-called Fair Districts amendments — which is anti-gerrymandering language in the state’s constitution.An underlying legal fight over the constitutionality of the new maps will continue.
But in the meantime, the state’s highest court will let the maps stand.Justice Jorge Labarga was the lone member of the high court to dissent.He is the only member of the court that is not a DeSantis appointee.
“For a second time in fewer than three years, in a substantively similar context, the district court has elected a path of delayed appellate review,” Labarga wrote.“Only this time, the votes of even more Floridians are at stake.”The new maps make 24 of Florida’s 28 congressional seat GOP-leaning, though several of those districts are still expected to see competitive campaigns.
Florida’s House delegation currently includes 20 Republicans and eight Democrats.“This is a travesty,” Genesis Robison, Equal Ground Florida’s executive director said.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMatt DixonMatt Dixon is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Florida....