Florida Governor DeSantis Calls For Mid-Cycle Congressional Redistricting

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is advocating for a mid-decade redistricting of congressional maps, citing rapid population growth and a recent state Supreme Court ruling that upheld allegedly gerrymandered districts as justification. He supports President Donald Trump's call for a new census to exclude undocumented immigrants, arguing the current census contains defects that disadvantage Republican states and malapportion districts, potentially granting Florida 3-4 additional congressional seats. The Florida Legislature, including House Speaker Daniel Perez, is moving forward by forming a Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting to explore the process. While redistricting is traditionally done every ten years post-census, Texas has already initiated mid-decade redistricting, sparking political battles nationwide as Democrats seek to counteract Republican gains. Critics warn that excluding undocumented immigrants from population counts could backfire in Florida due to its large undocumented population, and concerns about the impact on democracy have been raised. Overall, Florida is positioned as a major political battleground with the redistricting efforts likely to shape its political landscape well beyond the 2026 midterm elections.