Ron DeSantis debuts new Florida congressional map for November elections
by Susan Ferrechio · The Washington TimesFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis will ask the state legislature this week to approve new Congressional district lines that are likely to elect 4 additional Republicans to the U.S. House.
Mr. DeSantis, a Republican, called the Florida legislature to consider the new map in a special session that begins on April 28.
Currently, Florida has 28 seats in the U.S. House, with 20 held by Republicans and eight held by Democrats. The new lines would likely eliminate four seats held by Democrats and skew the vote toward Republican candidates, making it likely to become a 24-4 split in favor of the GOP.
Mr. DeSantis had pledged to reconfigure the state’s congressional district lines ahead of November, but insisted it is not for political gain.
Partisan gerrymandering is illegal in Florida.
He told Fox News the state was “shortchanged” during the 2020 census, and he continues to fight for “fair representation” for the state.
The Washington Times has reached out to Mr. DeSantis.
Florida’s population has increased by nearly 1.9 million people since 2020.
Advertisement Advertisement
Mr. DeSantis will formally seek approval of the map when the GOP-majority legislature convenes on Tuesday.
The new map was proposed after Virginia voters last week narrowly approved a gerrymandered congressional map drawn by Democrats that eliminates nearly every GOP seat. The new Virginia map virtually ensures 10 Democrats and just one Republican are elected to the U.S. House in the November election. It still must survive several legal challenges brought by Republicans.
Mr. DeSantis pointed out that since the 2020 census, the state’s voter registration has flipped from majority-Democrat to a 1.5 million advantage among voters registered as Republicans.
Florida data show that as of 2026, there are 5.54 million voters registered as Republicans, 4.05 million voters registered as Democrats and 3.3 million voters with no party affiliation.
Florida and Virginia are part of a nationwide mid-decade redistricting scramble ahead of the midterm elections.
Advertisement Advertisement
Democrats are hoping to pick up enough seats to win back the House majority, now narrowly controlled by Republicans.
Mr. DeSantis originally convened the legislature earlier this month but postponed it until Tuesday. He denied the delay had anything to do with Virginia’s special election on redistricting.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.