TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – President Donald Trump is tapping GOP-led states to redraw their congressional district maps, forward of the 2026 midterm election.
Texas has already known as in its state lawmakers to behave, and now the query is, will Gov. Ron DeSantis do the identical?
Redistricting usually occurs as soon as each 10 years, however lawmakers may very well be gearing as much as redraw the state’s congressional map method ahead of they may have anticipated, with GOP eyes on at the very least one Democratic congressional seat within the Tampa Bay space.
If the governor chooses to take action, it might not be the primary time DeSantis has known as lawmakers again to Tallahassee to redraw district maps.
In 2022, DeSantis vetoed a GOP-led map, known as everybody again for a particular session, and handed his most popular district traces.
Now, three years later, the state legislature may already be hitting the drafting board, but once more.
As the excitement across the concept continues to develop, 8 On Your Facet requested the governor at a press conference in Manatee County whether or not he plans to name lawmakers again in to redraw the maps.
“I do suppose it might be acceptable to do a redistricting within the mid-decade. We’re working via what that may appear to be, however I can inform you, simply have a look at how inhabitants has shifted in numerous components of the state in a 4–5-year interval, it has been actually important,” DeSantis stated.
Nevertheless, state Democrats are pushing again on the chance, saying no new numbers on inhabitants development have even been put out but.
“No numbers have been given to the state. No numbers have been given to the governor, so that is simply him on a soapbox speaking about this fictitious challenge. As a result of if this was actual, then why not do the legislative maps if theirs such motion and adjustments inside the inhabitants,” stated Florida Democratic Social gathering Chairwoman, Nikki Fried.
DeSantis, nonetheless, says he is talked to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, asking him to do a recount, hoping it may be prepared in time for 2026.
“It is unclear if that depend can truly happen quick sufficient, if it may be licensed, and even when it does, it is normally a one-to-two-year means of redrawing the traces, holding committee hearings, having public enter after which after all having that each one executed earlier than the 2026 midterm elections,” stated St. Pete Faculty Political Analyst, Tara Newsom.
8 On Your Facet sat down with Newsom, asking her whether or not this transfer will favor Republicans.
“What is going to profit DeSantis if he does this, apart from distracting the state legislature from kitchen desk subjects like training, healthcare, property tax, house insurance coverage, and that is the actual query, why is he making this gamble?” questioned Newsom.
Various questions nonetheless stay, like: Do Florida voters even need this? And might the governor get the legislature on board after the stress we noticed between management final session?
