Florida Judge Lets GOP Map Stand, Potentially Adding 4 House Seats Before Aug. 18 Primary
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 26
Florida Judge Lets GOP Map Stand, Potentially Adding 4 House Seats Before Aug. 18 Primary
11 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 26
Judge Joshua Hawkes refused to block Florida’s new congressional map, saying changing lines now would disrupt an election process already underway ahead of June candidate qualifying and the Aug. 18 primary.
The map, passed last month by the GOP-led Legislature, could expand Republicans’ 20-8 delegation edge by four seats; Hawkes also said the prior map’s race-based districting raised constitutional questions.
Voting and civil-rights groups argued DeSantis aides used partisan data and violated Florida’s 2010 anti-gerrymandering standards, but Hawkes said they had not shown sufficient evidence of impermissible intent at this stage.
Plaintiffs said they will appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, while DeSantis celebrated the ruling and Democrats including Rep. Darren Soto denounced the reshaped districts as a partisan power grab.
The decision keeps in place a mid-decade redraw pushed by DeSantis after Trump encouraged states to revisit maps, intensifying a legal fight that could reshape Florida’s House delegation for the rest of the decade.
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Florida’s New Congressional Map: 2026 GOP Advantage, Lawsuits, and the Redistricting Arms Race
Overview
Florida's new congressional map, signed into law in February 2026, was upheld by Judge Joshua Hawkes, marking a win for its supporters and allowing the new district lines to stand. This move follows President Donald Trump's push for GOP-led states to redraw maps, aiming to boost Republican representation. The map specifically targets key Democratic incumbents and is expected to shift Florida’s U.S. House delegation in favor of Republicans. Despite Democratic efforts to delay its implementation, the House blocked those attempts, setting the stage for a more competitive and uncertain 2026 midterm election landscape.