Proposed April session could reshape congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterms amid Voting Rights Act uncertainty.
Jonathan Roman | Staff Writer
Governor Ron DeSantis has called for a special session in April to redistrict Florida’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms. The state began holding legislative hearings on redistricting in December.
Florida’s 2026 Legislative season is set to start next week, yet Governor DeSantis said he wanted to wait for a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act. The Ruling in Louisiana V. Callais could determine whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bars discrimination in voting systems, is constitutional.
DeSantis said in a news conference in Steinhatchee, Florida, “at least one or two” districts in Florida could be affected by the ruling, adding, “So, we’re getting out ahead of that.”
DeSantis said on X, “Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally.” Densantis added, “This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April.”
In 2010, 60% of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the redrawing of district boundaries to unfairly favor one political party. However, the Florida Supreme Court upheld a congressional map pushed by DeSantis, which opponents said violated the 2010 amendment.
For Sweetwater, redistricting could mean real changes in your congressional representation and political landscape. The exact impact will depend on the final map the Florida Legislature adopts in the special session.
Florida is one of many states that is engaging in partisan gerrymandering. Notably, Texas had a mid-decade redistricting in a special session to favor Republicans. In response, California passed an amendment to redistrict the state map to benefit Democrats. As well as North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah.
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