Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a new congressional map that would likely give Republicans four additional seats in the House of Representatives.

“Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we’ve been fighting for fair representation ever since,” DeSantis told Fox News Digital.

“Our population has since grown dramatically, and we have moved from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage. Drawing maps based on race, which is reflected in our current congressional districts, is unconstitutional and should be prohibited,” he continued.

Fox News shared further:

Currently, the Florida delegation to Congress is represented by 20 Republicans and seven Democrats, with an eighth Democratic seat vacant following the resignation of former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

The redistricted map proposal comes after Virginia recently approved a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts and flip four GOP seats to the Democratic side.

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Virginia’s new proposed map was praised by Democrats, including Gov. Abigail Spanberger and former President Barack Obama.

“Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is ‘entitled’ to more Republican seats in Congress,” Spanberger said in a statement. “Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input — and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.”

Fifty-one and a half percent of Virginia voters approved the amendment last week. Projections show 10 seats that likely will be won by Democrats, and just one by a Republican to represent the entirety of Virginia in Congress.

However, the Virginia referendum will face legal challenges before the 2026 midterm elections.

A Virginia judge ruled the referendum unconstitutional and blocked the state from certifying the results.

Virginia’s current attorney general, Jay Jones, said he would appeal the decision.

“RIGGED ELECTION” – President Trump Comments On Virginia Redistricting Referendum, Judge Rules Proposed Amendment Unconstitutional

"Our new map for 2026 makes good on my promise to conduct mid-decade redistricting and it more fairly represents the makeup of Florida today," DeSantis told Fox News Digital.

Florida state lawmakers will gather for a special session next week to consider the proposed congressional map.

NBC News has more:

Because of Fair Districts, Florida Republicans have discussed the need to push forward with redistricting through the lens of the census data and population shifts, rather than focusing on pure political gain like politicians in most other states that have redrawn their congressional maps over the past year.

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In a memo to lawmakers, DeSantis also signaled his new map will be an attempt to force reconsideration of the Fair Districts provisions in the state Constitution. The language requires the consideration of race when drawing new political lines, which DeSantis says is unconstitutional.

"Properly understood, the Fourteenth Amendment forbids the government from divvying up the citizenry based in whole or in part upon race," read the memo, which was penned by DeSantis general counsel David Axelman.

But the aggressive political gains the new map seeks have some Republicans questioning whether the governor has misread the current political atmosphere. Democrats across the country, including in Florida, have flipped GOP-held seats in special and regular elections amid President Donald Trump’s low approval ratings.

The concern rises from the idea that in order to create more GOP-leaning seats, the margins in many redrawn districts will get smaller for Republican incumbents. During what is expected to be a difficult 2026 midterm for the party, it could put those incumbents at risk of losing even if they have slight registration advantages.

 

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