A Florida redistricting plan pushed by Ron DeSantis is in direct violation of the state constitution, a judge has ruled — based on the belief that it diminishes the opportunities of black voters.
Citing proposed apportionments in the state’s northern region, District Judge J. Lee Marsh announced the decision Saturday – along with instructions for lawmakers to follow so a new map can be created that is more consistent with local laws .
Among the changes proposed in DeSantis’ draft – part of a once-a-decade census in which lawmakers redraw boundaries – include a problem area in the northern part of the state that had connected several communities from Tallahassee to Jacksonville.
The district was previously chaired by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Democrat who enjoyed the support of a broad base of black voters. However, in November, DeSantis’ redistricting caused him to lose his re-election bid after much of his district splintered.
Republicans defending the district boundaries had previously claimed that the state’s provision to weaken or abolish minority-dominant districts violates the U.S. Constitution – an argument Marsh rejected Sunday.
A redistricting plan pushed by Ron DeSantis violates the Florida Constitution, a local judge ruled Saturday – saying it harms the ability of black voters
Citing proposed apportionments in the state’s northern region, District Judge J. Lee Marsh announced the decision Saturday – along with instructions for lawmakers to follow so a new map can be created that is more consistent with local laws
In justifying his ruling, the lawyer said he was influenced by voting rights groups that challenged the plan in court – explaining that they “have shown that the adopted plan results in the ability of Clack voters to vote for their preferred candidate.” vote is restricted in violation of the Florida Constitution.’
Marsh – once head of the Attorney General’s Corrections Division and a veteran naval officer – wrote: “The Court finds that the defendants in this case have failed to meet their burden.”
The decision is just the latest to reject new congressional election plans over concerns about Black voter power, and comes after local Republicans introduced a election plan that likely would have helped Lawson get re-elected, but the draft of which would have been overruled.
The DeSantis administration then presented its own version and promised to veto any other version. His office is now expected to file an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court before the end of the week.
As noted, the congressional map put forth by DeSantis—who is currently trailing Donald Trump in most polls—dissolved Lawson’s district, which had connected several black neighborhoods west from Tallahassee to Jacksonville.
He then lost his race by 20 points to Republican Congressman Neal Dunn, prompting him to tell voters that he would consider running for his district again if the legislature reinstated it with a similar makeup to before.
Currently, four of Florida’s 28 representatives are black – a percentage slightly lower than the 17 percent that makes up the state’s overall black population.
The changes proposed in DeSantis’ draft — part of a once-a-decade census in which lawmakers redraw boundaries — include a problem area in the northern part of the state
The district was previously chaired by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Democrat who enjoyed the support of a broad base of black voters. However, in November, DeSantis’ redistricting caused him to lose his re-election bid after much of his district splintered
According to the new maps, an area stretching about 360 miles from the Alabama border to the Atlantic Ocean and south from the Georgia border to Orlando in central Florida is represented only by white members of Congress.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Republican-drafted map in Alabama. Two conservative justices joined liberals in rejecting an attempt to weaken a landmark voting rights law.
Not long after, the Supreme Court reversed its decision on political redistricting in Louisiana, raising the likelihood that the Republican-dominated state will have to redraw boundary lines to create a second predominantly black congressional district.
In each of the cases, Republicans have either appealed the decisions or vowed to appeal because they could benefit Democratic congressional candidates who face running under redrawn maps in 2024. The Florida case will likely end up in the Florida Supreme Court.
Every 10 years — after a once-a-decade census — lawmakers redraw political boundaries in all 50 states, including Florida.
DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, was criticized for essentially forcing Lawson out of office by splitting his district and dividing large numbers of Black voters into conservative districts represented by Republicans.
State Senator Kelli Stargel looks at redistricting maps during a Senate redistricting committee hearing on Jan. 13, 2022, in Tallahassee. On Saturday, a state judge ruled that Florida’s restructuring plan pushed by Gov. DeSantis violates the state constitution
In an unprecedented move, DeSantis interfered in the redistricting process last year by vetoing the Republican-dominated Legislature’s map that protected Lawson’s district.
He called a special session, presented his own map and demanded its adoption by the legislature.
In their lawsuit, the voting rights groups alleged that the redrawn congressional map violated state and federal voting rights protections for black voters.
Florida’s population of 22.2 million is 17% black. According to the new maps, an area stretching about 360 miles (579 kilometers) from the Alabama border to the Atlantic Ocean and south from the Georgia border to Orlando in central Florida is represented only by white members of Congress.
The Florida judge rejected defense arguments from Republican lawmakers that the state’s provision against weakening or eliminating minority-dominant districts violates the U.S. Constitution.
Marsh wrote: “The court finds that the defendants in this case have failed to meet their burden.”