Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly challenged House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as Florida prepares a special legislative session to advance a GOP-favored congressional map. Jeffries, encouraged by a Virginia referendum that strengthens Democrats' delegation, warned of "maximum warfare" and named eight Florida seats Democrats would aggressively target. Some Republicans caution the move could be risky given recent Democratic gains and anti-gerrymandering language in Florida's constitution. National redistricting battles and potential legal challenges make next week's session a likely flashpoint.
DeSantis Taunts Jeffries as Florida Gears Up for Contested Redistricting: "Bring It On"
DeSantis escalates clash with Jeffries over Florida redistricting: ‘Bring it on’
Tensions over Florida's upcoming redistricting escalated on Friday as Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly challenged House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ahead of a special legislative session. The dispute centers on a GOP-led plan to redraw congressional maps that Republicans say will help counter recent Democratic gains in neighboring states.
"Go ahead, make my day, bring it on," DeSantis said at a Jacksonville press conference. "I would like nothing better than to have him campaigning all across Florida."
"We are not going to be cowed by threats from some machine politician from Brooklyn. It doesn't work that way down here. That's not how we roll," the governor added, underscoring his willingness to make the redistricting fight a national flashpoint.
Jeffries — buoyed by a recent Virginia referendum that will allow congressional lines to be redrawn in a way that favors Democrats in 10 of 11 districts, giving that delegation a 6-5 Democratic edge — pushed back sharply. He called the proposed Florida map a "dummymander" and warned of "maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time" should Republicans move forward. In a pointed remark to reporters, Jeffries said: "Our message to Florida Republicans is, 'F around and find out.'"
The verbal exchange comes ahead of a special session of the Florida Legislature next week, when Republicans plan to advance a GOP-friendly congressional map. DeSantis said he expected lawmakers to "get the job done," but not all Republicans are convinced the plan is wise.
Some GOP operatives and consultants cautioned the effort is "fraught with peril," pointing to recent Democratic victories across Florida and to anti-gerrymandering provisions in the state's constitution that could invite legal challenges. Observers note the broader national context, where redistricting has become a tit-for-tat battle: Republicans have enacted new maps in Texas, North Carolina and Missouri, while Democrats have picked up seats after redraws in California and from a court-ordered map in Utah. The broader escalation traces back to last year's push to redraw Texas maps aimed at netting more GOP House seats.
What To Watch: next week's special session in Tallahassee, the eight Republican-held Florida House seats Jeffries said Democrats would target, and potential court challenges under Florida's anti-gerrymandering rules.
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