Advocacy groups are warning Florida legislators against pursuing mid-decade redistricting, citing concerns over partisanship and legality. The call comes after a recent committee hearing in which public participation was restricted; members of the public were not allowed to speak or submit speaker cards.
The debate follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Abbott v. League of United Latin American Citizens, where the Court found that Texas engaged in mid-decade redistricting for partisan purposes. Justice Alito stated in his concurrence, “that the impetus for the adoption of the Texas map (like the map subsequently adopted in California) was partisan advantage pure and simple.” While federal law allows such practices following Rucho v. Common Cause (2019), advocates note that Florida’s constitution explicitly prohibits partisan gerrymandering.
Amy Keith, Executive Director of Common Cause Florida, said: “Floridians reject mid-decade redistricting and partisan gerrymandering. The Supreme Court has named what’s going on in Texas as partisan gerrymandering, which is explicitly unconstitutional in Florida. It’s time to end this charade of mid-decade redistricting and focus on the needs of Floridians, like our affordability crisis.”
Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground Action Fund, added: “Floridians have made it abundantly clear they oppose any effort to draw our maps for partisan reasons. Not only is it against the law, but it is impractical and would further complicate our elections administration process. We call on the Legislature and Governor to abandon this unnecessary attack on our democracy and focus on the issues that help move Florida forward.”
Jonathan Webber, Florida Policy Director at Southern Poverty Law Center, commented: “In Florida, lawmakers aren’t allowed to adjust our political maps like a fantasy football roster. If there is no court order and no new Census, then the only reason left for mid-decade redistricting is seemingly politics, and politics is not a lawful justification for redistricting in Florida.”
Recent polling indicates that most Floridians—including many who voted for former President Trump—oppose both mid-decade redistricting efforts and partisan gerrymandering.
