Florida Supreme Court Upholds Congressional Map Eliminating Majority-Black District

The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's congressional map in a 5-1 decision, rejecting challenges that the redistricting plan violated the state Constitution by eliminating a majority-Black district in North Florida. The district, which previously stretched over 200 miles and enabled Black voters to elect a preferred candidate, was dismantled following a push by Governor Ron DeSantis, who argued that maintaining it constituted unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. The court's majority, led by Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz, ruled that restoring the district would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, emphasizing that compliance with this federal clause limits the Legislature's obligations under the state's Fair Districts Amendment. Voting-rights groups contended that the new map diminishes Black voters' ability to elect representatives of their choice, but the court found they failed to prove a viable alternative map that complies with both the non-diminishment clause and constitutional protections. The decision preserves a Republican advantage in Florida’s congressional delegation and has drawn criticism from advocacy groups, who view it as undermining Black voting power. Governor DeSantis praised the ruling as constitutionally sound and supported by both federal and state courts.