A Leon County circuit judge ruled Tuesday that Florida's new congressional map can move forward while legal challenges continue, handing Gov. Ron DeSantis a win in a high-stakes redistricting fight that mirrors national battles over partisan line-drawing.
Judge Joshua Hawkes, a DeSantis appointee, found that those suing to block the map had not shown they were likely to succeed. The decision clears the way for the state to implement the Republican-friendly plan for the 2026 races and keeps election officials on track to prepare for primaries just months away.
Hawkes rejected the argument that mapmaker Jason Poreda's own statements about using partisan data and ignoring Florida's Fair Districts Amendment amounted to proof of illegal intent. The judge called such evidence circumstantial and sided with the state's argument that swapping maps this close to an election would create chaos.
Three state lawsuits challenging the map were consolidated before Hawkes. At a Friday hearing, plaintiffs highlighted Poreda's own comments that he drew districts "not having to comply with the Fair Districts Amendment" and used "partisan data" for "every district." They presented DeSantis' own boasts to Fox News about flipping Florida from a Democratic voter registration advantage to a 1.5 million Republican advantage.
What comes next is likely headed to Florida's Supreme Court, where DeSantis appointed six of the seven justices and all seven were appointed by Republican governors. That heavily stacks the deck for the map's survival at the highest state level.
This is DeSantis' second major redraw of Florida's congressional lines. In 2022, he vetoed the Legislature's map, forced lawmakers to adopt his version, and delivered a delegation of 20 Republicans and eight Democrats. His new map follows the same playbook, with his office drawing the lines and then providing a version colored by partisan performance to media outlets.
The timing issue cuts both ways. The state argues that changing maps this close to an election confuses voters, yet it enacted this new map months before the primary election. Plaintiffs contend the state doesn't have the authority to ignore a voter-approved amendment banning districts "drawn to favor or disfavor" a political party.
Florida's fight is part of a larger national wave. The U.S. Supreme Court has strengthened GOP arguments against race-conscious districts. Virginia's Democratic gerrymander was struck down. Louisiana is poised to flip one Black Democratic seat to Republican control. Tennessee eliminated its last Black-majority Democratic seat. South Carolina is considering the same move. The redistricting wars that began after Trump's presidency are playing out almost entirely in Republicans' favor.
Judge Hawkes suggested any successful injunction would more likely affect elections in 2028 or 2030, not 2026. Plaintiffs can appeal, but the clock is running fast. For now, DeSantis' map is live, and the state's election machinery is moving ahead.
Author James Rodriguez: "This is a masterclass in using the judiciary to lock in a political advantage before voters have a say."
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