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Plaintiffs Make Their Case Against Florida’s Map, But Will A Judge Stop Its Use Before The Midterms?

Gerrymandered redistricting map in Florida

A Leon County Circuit Judge heard arguments that Florida’s new congressional group should be put on hold until after the Midterms.

Attorneys for voting rights groups argued that a clear partisan intent behind the map — which dismantles four Democratic-leaning districts while leaving most seats held by Republicans intact — violates a ban on partisan intent by mapmakers in Florida’s Constitution.

Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes, an appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis, said he will issue a decision in writing in coming days. He combined all lawsuits challenging the current map into one case this week, and said he would review all briefs and a transcript of a Friday hearing before making his decision.

How Would A Democratic Governor Work With A GOP-Led Legislature In Florida?

David Jolly meets with supporters in Tallahassee

David Jolly and Jerry Demings are vying to become the first Democratic governor to lead Florida in nearly three decades. If elected, they’ll face an additional challenge — working with an opposition Republican Party that enjoys a supermajority in the Legislature.

Speaking during a campaign event in Clearwater Wednesday night, Jolly mentioned a couple of specific ways he believes he could overcome that problem to deliver his policy goals, beginning with the power to name agency heads.

Senate Republicans Defy Trump and Shelve Signature Legislation

VOTE sign

Weeks after Donald Trump stressed to his party that passing that voter restriction bill was the “most important thing” they could do, Senate Republicans have shelved the legislation entirely, unable to bypass the Democratic filibuster that stands in the way of its potential passage, Punchbowl News reported Thursday.

‘One of the most extreme gerrymanders in American history’: Voters Sue to Block Florida’s New Map

Protestors against redistricting at the Florida Capitol

lorida voters and pro-voting group Equal Ground Education Fund filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the GOP’s new congressional gerrymander, urging a court to block the map for violating the state constitution’s ban on partisan gerrymandering.

The map was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who led the unusual mid-decade redistricting as part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to tilt the 2026 midterm elections.

Florida Republicans raced to enact the map with minimal public input and despite sharp criticism from Democrats — as well as unease within their own party.

Counsel For Desantis Tells Lawmakers They Can Ignore Fair Districts Amendments In Approving New Map

Citizens protesting redistricting in Florida, holding signs in front of the Florida capitol

An attorney representing Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that the proposed congressional redistricting map he presented Monday to the Legislature is constitutional because federal law supersedes language in the 2010 Fair District Amendments.

DeSantis’ new map is likely to add as many as four Republican congressional seats to the 20 out of 28 that they now hold in Florida. DeSantis only began speaking about redistricting after President Donald Trump last year called on red states to change their congressional maps to aid Republicans in the 2026.

US Senate GOP Adopts Budget Blueprint Laying Path For Billions For ICE, Border Patrol

Three armed federal officers in bulletproof vests in a hallway.

U.S. Senate Republicans approved a budget resolution early Thursday intended to speed the way for billions for immigration enforcement, sending the measure to the House, where GOP lawmakers in that chamber need to adopt it to unlock the reconciliation process.

The 50-48 vote followed a marathon amendment voting session that Democrats used to highlight policy differences on cost-of-living issues and stalled federal emergency relief dollars for states.

Poll: Less Than Half Of Floridians Want To Vote For GOP Congressional Candidates

GOP elephant with the "No" strikethrough circle around it

The poll of 406 Florida voters, conducted by Echelon Insights, shows 49% of voters say they intend to vote for the Republican candidate while 46% say they want to vote Democrat.

Yet that’s not the worst news for Republicans in this survey.

When it comes to voters who definitely intend to show up in November, Democrats outperform Republicans, with 37% of respondents intent on voting blue while just 36% are ready and raring to vote red.

Florida Is Up For Grabs, One District At A Time

Florida Rising logo

Recent special elections show it clearly: Florida isn’t a solid red state. It’s a collection of highly competitive swing districts, where elections are being decided on the margins, and by voters who don’t belong to either party.

Poll Shows Donald Trump Approval Rating Underwater In Florida

President Donald Trump is polling underwater in his home state according to a new poll.

The survey also shows the Republican Commander in Chief is less popular than GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Emerson College Polling found the Mar-a-Lago Republican with a 46% job approval rating among likely voters in Florida. Meanwhile, 47% of voters in the Sunshine State disapprove of the job he’s doing.

That’s a poor showing in a state he won by more than 13 percentage points in 2024 on his way to becoming the first Florida resident to win the presidency.