Florida Governor DeSantis Challenges 2020 Census Undercount Seeking Additional House Seats

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier are jointly challenging the 2020 Census results, arguing that Florida was undercounted and shortchanged in its congressional representation under the Biden administration. They are pushing for a rare mid-decade census update based on findings from the 2022 Post-Enumeration Survey, which showed Florida was undercounted by nearly 3.5%, potentially justifying additional congressional seats and electoral votes before the 2026 midterms. DeSantis emphasized that this adjustment would not only add at least one House seat but also trigger a redraw of Florida’s congressional map, securing proper representation and electoral influence for the state. Uthmeier accused a longstanding effort by the so-called 'deep state' to manipulate census data in favor of blue sanctuary states, supporting President Donald Trump's call to challenge the current apportionment. While the initiative faces legal hurdles due to the decennial nature of the census, the Florida leadership is committed to working with the Trump administration to correct what they see as a flawed and politically biased census process. The effort marks a significant escalation in Florida's political strategy to gain additional representation and federal funding by correcting census inaccuracies.