Equality Florida Condemns Passage of DeSantis’s Illegal, Unconstitutional Congressional Map

Equality Florida Condemns Passage of DeSantis’s Illegal, Unconstitutional Congressional Map

Tallahassee, FL — Today, the Florida Legislature passed a mid-decade congressional map that violates the Florida Constitution and its Fair Districts Amendments approved by voters to prohibit partisan gerrymandering.

Despite overwhelming bipartisan opposition, including Senator Jason Pizzo and Republican lawmakers Representative Hillary Cassel and Senators Alexis Calatayud, Ileana Garcia, Erin Grall, and Jennifer Bradley, who joined Democrats in voting against the map, the Legislature rammed through Governor DeSantis’s map just months ahead of critical midterm elections.

The vote comes the same day as the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, which threatens decades of voting rights progress by effectively greenlighting unchecked gerrymandering that targets Black voters, but does not impact Florida’s constitutional prohibition against partisan gerrymandering.

In response, Jon Harris Maurer, General Counsel and Public Policy Director for Equality Florida, issued the following statement:

“This map is illegal, unconstitutional, and a blatant partisan power grab. The Governor’s office expressly admitted that the map relies on partisan political data. It will silence voters, especially Black and brown Floridians, LGBTQ Floridians, young people, and others whose representation is already too often diminished.

Florida voters were clear: Districts must be fair, not drawn to benefit politicians or a political party. This rushed special session, funded by taxpayers, wasn’t about solving real problems like the housing crisis or skyrocketing insurance costs. It was about rigging a system to tilt the sales for Donald Trump and extremists in Washington before voters even cast a ballot.

There is no reasonable basis for this map, and Floridians continue to pay the price for the Governor’s political ambition. The public is not buying it. Hundreds of Floridians showed up at the Capitol, and thousands more spoke out to demand fair maps.

When leaders ignore the Constitution, the courts become the next line of defense. This map raises serious constitutional concerns, and we expect it to face immediate legal challenges in the courts.

Equality Florida will continue working alongside partners across the state to support legal challenges, hold decision-makers accountable, and ensure that every Floridian—no matter their race, background, or identity–has an equal voice in our democracy.”