TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Wednesday marked day three of a federal trial involving a panel of three judges listening to arguments about the way Florida Senate District 16 was drawn. This district includes a portion of south St. Petersburg, along with Tampa, Temple Terrace, and down to Ruskin.

North Hillsborough resident and lead plaintiff Keto Nord Hodges testified in court about the district’s lines.

“The Florida Senate unconstitutionally packed in Black voters in south St. Pete and Hillsborough County together into one district,” Hodges said.

Hodges is one of several plaintiffs. They fear Black voters in that part of Pinellas County are not able to weigh in on issues that matter specifically to them and their neighbors.

“The needs of both those communities are 100% different,” Hodges said. “As far as education, incentives for businesses, including small businesses, transportation,n including mass transit.”

Currently, Democratic State Sen. Darryl Rouson, who is Black, represents District 16. The district that includes of bulk of Pinellas County is District 18, which is represented by Republican State Sen. Nick DiCeglie, who is white.  

Carolyn McNamara is an attorney with the ACLU of Florida.

“There was testimony that Sen. Rousson, who represents the district now, he alternates years on Martin Luther King Day, whether he does it in St. Petersburg or Tampa, because he just can’t do both.”

Plaintiffs submitted an alternate map as evidence. They want District 16 to just include portions of Tampa and Hillsborough. Then District 18 will pick up the southern tip of Pinellas County, which could also make it less of a Republican leaning district than the current district.

If the outcome is not what Hodges wants, he still would like lawmakers to act.

“I’m hoping that the Florida Senate will consider the will of our community, the best interest of our community, so we don’t have to split a senator with south St. Petersburg,” Hodges said.

On Wednesday, the defense called up a key witness to the stand. Florida Senate Senior Policy Advisor Jay Ferrin, who told the panel of three judges that senators followed the law and did nothing differently this year compared to previous years.  

Closing arguments are set for Thursday, and attorneys expect a decision sometime in September. If the plaintiffs win their argument, in theory, the Florida Senate will have enough time to redraw and approve a map by the time qualifying starts for the November 2026 election.

Attorneys for the Florida Senate said the map was ruled valid by the Florida Supreme Court.

Also, in a statement, they said in part:

“This lawsuit has been a complete sham from Day 1 and Senate will continue to vigorously defend the unanimously approved work product of this body.”