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In late April, Florida undertook a significant redrawing of its congressional map, prompted by Governor Ron DeSantis. This move coincided with the Supreme Court’s decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case. As it stands, Republicans control 20 out of Florida’s 28 congressional seats. Should the new map withstand ongoing legal challenges, it could grant them as many as four additional seats in the forthcoming midterm elections.
This past Wednesday marked a pivotal moment in the legal battles surrounding the map. A recent court ruling has nudged Florida closer to implementing this controversial new map:
On Wednesday, a ruling was handed down in a lawsuit filed over the map, a ruling that effectively puts the Sunshine State one step closer to being able to use it:
A Florida judge refused Tuesday to block a recently adopted congressional map that could net Republicans four extra seats in Congress from the Sunshine State.
The decision by Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes, appointed to the bench by Gov. Ron DeSantis, doesn’t end the legal battle. But it greatly increases the likelihood that the map will be in place for the 2026 midterms while the underlying challenge continues.
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The judge contended one reason to keep the new map — which was passed late last month by the GOP-controlled Legislature — was to avoid confusion ahead of the upcoming elections. Qualifying for congressional and state elections takes place the second week of June, and the primary will be held on Aug. 18.