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source_url: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/793810-florida-pols-groups-react-to-scotus-redistricting-ruling-passage-of-new-gop-map/
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There was no shortage of reactions across Florida in the wake of a [U.S. Supreme Court ruling](https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-voting-rights-congressional-redistricting-louisiana-aa5d7dbde7c13654f341d152c2ad5229) that weakened a landmark Civil Rights-era law which previously increased minority representation in government.
The 6-3 [decision](https://apnews.com/live/voting-rights-act-supreme-court-updates-04-29-2026), which found that race cannot be a primary factor in drawing districts, effectively bolstered a push by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his GOP allies to draw a new congressional map.
Florida lawmakers [approved](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/793654-house-approves-desantis-map/) the new map hours later on Wednesday, aimed at giving Republicans [up to four more seats](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/us/elections/florida-house-approves-new-congressional-map-in-party-line-vote.html) in the state’s 28-member delegation. The Supreme Court ruling will hinder legal challenges against it.
Before the ruling, maps could be challenged under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act ([VRA](https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/voting-rights-act)) if they diluted minority voting power, even without explicit racist intent.
The Court interpreted Section 2 far more narrowly, essentially requiring proof of intentional discrimination.
In practice, it means lawmakers can now redraw districts in ways that reduce minority voting strength, which, based on analyses of DeSantis’ map, could weaken Democratic representation in Washington, D.C.
The ruling landed as President Donald Trump and national Republicans push to improve the GOP’s position ahead of the Midterms, with redistricting emerging as a key battleground.
Trump has encouraged a fresh round of map-drawing in Republican-led states, and places like Texas have been [exploring or advancing](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/27/texas-redistricting-map-ruling-us-supreme-court-upheld-2026-midterms/) new congressional lines.
Meanwhile, [legal and political fights](https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/virginia-supreme-court-denies-motion-certify-redistricting-referendum-vote/65-d0adf796-1802-4dc4-b31d-2833d62bafa4) over maps continue in states such as Virginia, where a redistricting effort has been viewed as more favorable to Democrats.
At least one group, [Common Cause Florida](https://www.commoncause.org/florida/), said it’s “exploring legal challenges” to the map, which it says is still illegal under the Florida Constitution.
“Florida’s mid-decade redistricting process has been partisan from start to finish, and that’s illegal in Florida,” Common Cause Florida Executive Director Amy Keith said in a statement. “Florida voters banned partisan gerrymandering in the Constitution. That didn’t change with today’s Callais decision. The Governor and the legislature have gone against the law and against the will of the people. Common Cause will fight to defend voters’ will to end partisan gerrymandering.”
As could be expected, there were plenty of other reactions from Florida political figures, organizations and others in The Process.
Federal officials
— President Donald Trump, asked after the Supreme Court ruling if he supported congressional redistricting for red states to improve GOP Midterm odds: “I would. I mean, it depends. Some states don’t need to redraw, and some do. … Yeah, I would say generally I would think that they would want to do it. Some were greatly helped and some you know didn’t make much difference.”
— U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds: “A [major win](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/793766-redistricting-fan-byron-donalds-hails-callais-decision-as-major-win-for-the-constitution/) for the Constitution! Today’s SCOTUS ruling confirms that race cannot be the ‘predominant’ factor in drawing congressional maps. By striking down the forced racial gerrymander, the Court is ensuring voters are seen as individuals, not just demographic groups. The Democrats do not care about black representation, they only care about Democrat representation. Exhibit A: Burgess Owens of Utah. Black man. Super Bowl Champion. Republican. Democrat interest groups in Utah swayed a state judge to implement new maps to get a Democrat in his congressional seat. Let’s be clear, the Democrats use the VRA to protect Democrat power.”
— U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost: “Today the Florida Legislature passed a congressional map that violates Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment and is designed to give House Republicans additional seats in the upcoming election. For Governor DeSantis, this is about winning elections, not the census or complying with Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment. Any redistricting plan should follow the law, and this map clearly violates both the letter and the intent of the law. This map is clearly illegal, and even a packed court like Florida’s will have to recognize that and ultimately strike it down.”
State officials
— Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman: “The map my Republican colleagues passed today is an illegal partisan gerrymander of Florida’s congressional districts. Despite today’s decision in Callais, the arguments presented by the governor’s office in defense of these maps have no basis in reality. Nothing in that decision invalidates any portion of the Florida Constitution, which I, my colleagues in the legislature, and the governor have all sworn an oath to defend. Passing this map, which was drafted in only two weeks and given to us with barely a day’s notice, was a complete abdication of our responsibility as legislators and an insult to the voters that put us here. I’d like to thank my colleagues from across the aisle that were brave enough to choose people over politics by opposing this map. Your willingness to put partisanship aside and do the right thing gives me a glimmer of hope in our increasingly cynical political world. I look forward to seeing these illegal maps challenged in court.”
— House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell: “I am profoundly disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to abandon decades of precedent and principle, effectively swinging open the doors to voter disenfranchisement. This decision is a betrayal of Black Americans who, after enduring centuries of discrimination, only secured the full right to vote a mere 60 years ago. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was born out of the sacrifice and hope of Americans determined to fulfill the promises of the 15th Amendment by eliminating barriers to the ballot box. And now the very tools that were put in place to protect representation are being twisted to diminish it. We should keep moving forward towards a more perfect union, not backwards towards repression. This failure is the exact result Donald Trump and Republican politicians wanted—not what the people wanted. Nothing in this decision requires Florida to draw new maps. No matter what excuses the Governor wants to make, any attempt to redraw congressional districts right now is a direct response to the President’s call to gerrymander districts to benefit Republicans. That partisanship and overreach is still illegal under Florida’s constitution no matter how the U.S. Supreme Court changes the meaning of the Voting Rights Act.”
— Senate Democratic Leader-designate Shevrin Jones: “These illegal maps are a clear gerrymander drawn for purely partisan gain and to silence voters’ voices. The Governor’s staff acknowledged as much. At the end of the day, our communities deserve representation that puts PEOPLE first — not more political games and distractions from their very real affordability crisis impacting Floridians across the state. It’s also not lost on me that this map was passed despite Republican opposition just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court undermined Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. For decades, the VRA has protected the right to vote for every American, and today’s decision continues the targeted assault against our democracy. The dilution of voters’ voices, especially voters of color, will undoubtedly have devastating long-term consequences. I refuse to sit back silently and stand with those fighting to protect our rights and fair and equal representation at every level.”
— State Sen. Tina Scott Polsky: “Political parties come and go. Majorities shift. The party that engineers the maps today may find itself on the other side of those maps tomorrow. But constitutional norms, once broken, are very hard to restore.”
— State Sen. Darryl Rouson: “Procedurally, we have [not undertaken the full due diligence](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/793780-darryl-rouson-warns-redistricting-maps-could-fracture-south-st-petersburg-representation/) of analyzing these maps to understand their impact; and I served on redistricting in 2011 and 2012 when we had 26 hearings around this state. … That has not taken place in this instance, I would argue. What we have instead is a map, that according to what we were told in Committee, was worked on for two weeks and finished over the weekend and delivered to us 24 hours before we vote on it in Committee.”
— State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith: “The Governor’s office repeatedly claims they drew “race-neutral” maps — these are deliberate lies. Their rigged maps intentionally crack Central FL Hispanic voting power by splitting them into 4 separate districts. These maps are racist AND illegal.”
Local officials
— Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings: At the time I was born in the South, the Voting Rights Act didn’t exist. It took generations of people marching and fighting for the right to vote and against disenfranchisement to get it passed. The Callais decision renders the Voting Rights Act a dead letter, according to Justice (Elana) Kagan. The gutting of Section 2 of the VRA will not only have a pernicious effect on minority representation in the halls of Congress but will also eviscerate opportunities for Black and Latino voters to elect candidates that reflect their communities in municipalities and state legislatures. Gov. DeSantis is attempting to use this decision in his attempt to rig our congressional districts. However, Florida voters overwhelmingly supported the Fair Districts Amendments, which constitutionally proscribe lawmakers from diluting minority voting interests: ‘districts shall not be drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to participate in the political process or to diminish their ability to elect representatives of their choice; and districts shall consist of contiguous territory.’ This language, in addition to the constitutional provisions banning partisan gerrymandering, is still in effect regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision. I call upon our legislative and judicial bodies to follow the Florida Constitution and allow all of our communities to elect representatives of their choosing.”
Other notables
— Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried: “Florida Republicans just violated their oath to the Florida Constitution. They intentionally disregarded the will of the people who voted in 2010 to ensure our maps are FAIR and not drawn on partisanship. Help us kick their asses out of office.”
— Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power: “Florida got it right. Gov. Ron DeSantis and our Legislature have delivered congressional maps that reflect the continued growth of our state that are fair, and constitutional, ensuring Florida voters are represented accurately. This is responsible governance and we applaud Governor DeSantis for his leadership on this and the Legislature for moving forward and passing these new maps. The Republican Party of Florida praised state lawmakers for their work in advancing a congressional map that prioritizes fair representation and upholds the integrity of Florida’s electoral process.”
— Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams: “Today has been a dark day for democracy, especially in the South. Republicans know their losing agenda is raising prices that will cost them elections this November, which is why they’re pulling out every stop to insulate themselves from facing accountability from voters. Between Florida Republicans’ blatant power grab and the weakening of the Voting Rights Act, statehouse power has never mattered more. The DLCC is meeting this moment with the most ambitious strategy to date to flip majorities and break GOP supermajorities across the South — including Florida. 2026 will determine the landscape of redistricting power through the rest of the decade — our democracy depends on winning statehouse power.”
— Former state Senator and Florida Attorney General candidate José Javier Rodríguez: “They can’t change how Floridians vote — so they’re trying to change the map instead. While families face rising costs, Republicans are reshaping congressional districts to directly impact your vote. We deserve fair maps, fair elections, and leaders who put people over power.”
— Congressional candidate Phil Ehr: “SCOTUS just delivered a body blow to the Voting Rights Act. No more using it to create fair majority-minority districts. DeSantis will use today’s ruling to double down on his gerrymandered maps, suppress minority power, and cement minority rule. Our voting rights are eroding in real time.”
— Congressional candidate Elijah Manley: “The Supreme Court took a sledgehammer to the Voting Rights Act today, eviscerating protections that allow black people and other minorities to elect candidates of our choice. This is a 21st-century Jim Crow.”
— Congressional candidate Rudolph “Rudy” Moise: “We are at a critical moment for our democracy. The Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Louisiana redistricting case is a sobering reminder that the fight to protect Black and Brown voting power is far from over. As a Haitian-American, a Black man, and a proud member of a community that has had to fight for every inch of political representation, I know that fair maps are not an abstract issue. They determine whether our communities have a real voice in Congress, in state government, and in the decisions that shape our daily lives. For generations, majority-minority districts have helped correct a long history of exclusion, ensuring that Black, Hispanic, immigrant, and historically underrepresented communities have a meaningful opportunity to elect leaders who understand their realities and will fight for their priorities. At a time when these protections face increasing challenges, we must remain vigilant. This moment calls for unity, action, and a renewed commitment to protecting the voices of Black and Brown communities at every level of government. Our message is clear: Black and Brown voters deserve representation, protection, and power at the table.”
— Matt Isbell of MCI Maps: “The Callais decision is NOT what DeSantis wanted. He insisted the court would strike down the use of race entirely and hence invalidate Florida’s own racial protections. That didn’t happen. Means Florida’s Fair Districts are still the law.”
— All Voting is Local State Director Brad Ashwell: “DeSantis’s legacy will always be tied to the erosion of voting rights in Florida. The ridiculous creation of an election police force, the laws that attacked popular voting methods like voting by mail and early voting, and now mid-decade redistricting — all have been used to keep voters from the ballot box and control the results of our elections. With his latest actions, DeSantis has ignored his state’s voters to instead cater to President Trump so their party can maintain control of Congress during the midterms. Despite what DeSantis and his cronies on the ground in Florida say, this redistricting push wasn’t about political lines. This was about whether all voters — including Black, Brown, and those from other historically excluded communities — can have a chance at representation in a system that’s supposed to serve everyone, and it was an opportunity those who voted for this new map failed to take.”
— League of Women Voters President Jessica Lowe-Minor: “The League of Women Voters of Florida is disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. However, it does not change the reality that, here in Florida, it is illegal to draw districts with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party. Despite the fig leaves that have been placed on mid-cycle redistricting, everyone can see that this is a partisan political power grab. The voters of Florida have repeatedly said they don’t like partisan gerrymandering. It’s really sad to see the voters’ will being ignored by the Governor and a majority of the state Legislature. Floridians deserve better.”
— UnidosUS Florida Political Director Jared Nordlund: “The congressional maps passed today by the Florida Legislature will diminish the political power of Floridians and erode fair representation for our communities in Congress. That is unacceptable, and it is unconstitutional. In 2010, UnidosUS stood shoulder to shoulder with Floridians to pass the Fair Districts Amendments because we believed every voter — and every community — deserved a fair shot at representation,” said Jared Nordlund, Florida State Director of UnidosUS. “These new maps betray that promise. They weaken voting power, they move our state backwards, and they are plainly unconstitutional. At a moment when families are drowning in a cost-of-living crisis and paying some of the highest gas prices in the country — a Florida-made problem — the Legislature should be focused on delivering real relief, not playing partisan games with the lines of democracy. UnidosUS proudly helped lead the Fair Districts coalition in 2010 to enshrine in Florida’s Constitution a clear promise: districts cannot be drawn to favor a political party or incumbent, and they must protect the ability of communities to elect representatives of their choice. The maps now moving through Tallahassee break that promise and silence the voices of the very voters the Fair Districts Amendments were designed to protect. Floridians deserve a Legislature focused on lowering costs — not rigging maps. From gerrymandered redistricting that silences our voices to policies that make healthcare, food, housing, and gas increasingly unaffordable, it is clear these efforts seek to erode both the political and economic power of working families. UnidosUS will continue to stand with our coalition partners to defend fair representation, fight for economic justice, and demand that Florida’s leaders get back to work on the issues that actually matter to the people they were elected to serve.”
— [Equal Ground](https://www.equal-ground.com/) Executive Director Genesis Robinson: “The Legislature’s decision to pass these rigged congressional maps is a direct slap in the face to millions of Floridians who were counting on their elected leaders to follow the law and uphold the Constitution. Instead, they chose politics over people. This brazen power grab makes one thing clear, the loyalty of the legislators who voted for this gerrymandered map lies not with the voters they were elected to serve, but with Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. Just yesterday, hundreds of Floridians showed up in Tallahassee. Thousands more called, emailed, and demanded fairness throughout this process. And yet, despite overwhelming public outcry, the Legislature pushed forward a map designed to hand Republicans control of 24 out of Florida’s 28 congressional seats. That is not fairness. That is not democracy. That is manipulation. It is shameful the Legislature abdicated its constitutional responsibility by allowing Governor DeSantis to draw these maps himself. He wrote them, and now he has signed them into law. That is not how our system is supposed to work. What we saw today is a blatant violation of both the law and the trust of the people.We are calling on the courts to intervene and put a stop to this unconstitutional and undemocratic power grab. Floridians deserve fair maps. And we will not stop fighting until we get them.”
One comment
Ronnlof John
April 30, 2026 at 6:14 am
Way too much Liberal talking points
Comments are closed.