States across the country are redrawing their congressional districts in an unprecedented mid-decade race to the bottom to reshape voting maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Florida has joined this race, attempting to implement a map that violates the state constitution and silences voters.
Passed during a special session called by Governor Ron DeSantis in April 2026 and drawn behind closed doors, the new gerrymandered map was deliberately drawn to favor one party, utilizing partisan data in the drawing of every district, with the explicit goal of eliminating four districts held by Democrats — directly violating Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment.
Extraordinarily, in transmitting his map to the Legislature, the governor unilaterally declared he did not need to follow Florida’s constitutional requirements in his new map. Thus, the process was completely unrestrained from partisan intent.
The map was rammed through the Legislature in only two days’ time, with no opportunity for public input before the map was drawn, and virtually none after it was introduced.
Campaign Legal Center, alongside the UCLA Voting Rights Project and on behalf of individual Florida voters, is suing to prevent this unfair map from going into effect.
What is the Fair Districts Amendment?
Passed overwhelmingly by Florida voters back in 2010 for congressional and state legislative districts, the Fair Districts Amendment states: “No apportionment plan or district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.”
The congressional map passed by the Florida state Legislature in the spring of 2026 violates this amendment, making the new map unconstitutional.
In addition to the blatant partisan nature of this new map, the map also violates a requirement to utilize political and geographic boundaries.
Elections should be determined by voters, not politicians who manipulate voting maps.
When districts are drawn fairly, all voters have an equal chance to make their voice heard and elect leaders who will best serve their community. But when the people in charge of drawing voting maps do so to benefit their own political party, voters lose.
State protections, like the Fair Districts Amendment, are key in ensuring that voters are able to make their voices heard and have their votes count equally. After the 2026 Louisiana v. Callais ruling eviscerating protections for voters against racially discriminatory maps, state guardrails like provisions in state constitutions and state Voting Rights Acts are essential to protect fair representation.
Campaign Legal Center stands ready to fight against this unconstitutional map ahead of the Florida primary in August, and the midterm elections in November. Support our work today.