congressional map florida

A congressional panel probing changes to elections laws across the country held a hearing in Tallahassee, illustrating a partisan divide over voting-related measures pushed in Republican-led states such as Florida.

Fair districts groups argue Florida's new congressional map violates the U.S. Constitution because it discriminates against Black voters.

Focusing on a North Florida district that has become a legal and political battleground, voting-rights groups and other plaintiffs are seeking a temporary injunction to block a congressional redistricting plan pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Anticipating legal challenges to a congressional redistricting plan proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Senate and House moved forward Tuesday with providing $1 million for litigation expenses.

The staff member who prepared a congressional redistricting map said race and party politics in now way factored into the final product being considered by the Legislature. Lawmakers were called back to the Capitol for a special session Tuesday to approve new congressional districts after DeSantis vetoed the maps they approved last month.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has submitted a congressional map that lawmakers are expected to take up when they meet in Tallahassee on April 19 - 22. The drawing would eliminate African American Democratic Rep. Al Lawson's district.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson sent a memo to lawmakers Monday ahead of a special session next week saying legislative staff will not draw new maps to be considered by the chambers. Instead, they’re asking Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to give them one.

Florida’s Secretary of State Laurel Lee is asking a federal court to halt proceedings in a lawsuit over the state’s new congressional map.

Florida is one of four states that hasn’t yet approved a congressional map — all other states have drawn their new U.S. House districts well ahead of the November 2022 elections. The legislature and the governor remain at odds over keeping an African American opportunity district in North Florida.

Voters and voting rights groups have filed two lawsuits seeking an injunction to prevent the state's current congressional map from remaining in effect and the implementation of a court-ordered map that's fair and constitutional.

The crux is that DeSantis’ threat to veto a redistricting plan drawn up by state lawmakers jeopardizes the chances of reaching agreement on a map — and that judges should step in.

While the legislative maps moved forward, work on the congressional map has paused.