Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced an April start to a congressional redistricting effort that could net Republicans as many as five additional House seats. The state's April 24 candidate filing deadline and August 18 primary create a tight timeline for lawmakers. Any new map would face legal scrutiny under a state constitutional amendment barring strictly partisan districts, and a pending Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act could further affect outcomes.
DeSantis Sets April Timeline for Florida Congressional Redistricting — Could Add Up to Five GOP Seats
FILE PHOTO: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press briefing in Tallahassee, Florida, U.S., September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Sears/File Photo
WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday said the Republican-controlled state will begin a congressional redistricting process in April, a move that could hand President Donald Trump's party as many as five additional U.S. House seats.
DeSantis' announcement follows repeated entreaties from Trump urging GOP-led states to redraw district lines to gain an electoral advantage in November, when control of both the House and the Senate will be contested. Historically, the president's party tends to lose seats in midterm elections, and Trump has warned that Democrats could pursue impeachment again if they regain the House.
Fast timeline, tight deadlines. The April timetable means Florida's legislature must move quickly: the filing deadline for congressional candidates is April 24 and the primary is scheduled for August 18. That compressed schedule raises questions about whether any map adopted in time could withstand likely court challenges and still be used for this year's races.
Mixed results elsewhere. Republican mapmakers have already produced favorable congressional maps in Texas, North Carolina and Ohio, though similar efforts fell short in Indiana and Kansas. Democrats have also benefited from redistricting in states such as Utah and California and are preparing new lines in Virginia.
Legal hurdles remain. Any new Florida plan would have to comply with a state constitutional amendment that prohibits drawing districts solely for partisan advantage. In addition, a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision related to the Voting Rights Act could reshape federal standards and affect future redistricting disputes nationwide.
Given the combination of tight deadlines, state constitutional limits and potential federal litigation, it remains uncertain whether the April effort will produce maps that survive legal scrutiny and apply to the 2024 elections.
(Reporting by Nolan D. McCaskill; editing by Andy Sullivan and Cynthia Osterman)
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