Florida has made a significant upgrade to its democratic governance process. Previously, when voters passed a constitutional amendment — like, say, a 2010 amendment explicitly banning partisan gerrymandering — the government was technically expected to comply with it. This was inefficient. Under the new system, Governor DeSantis convenes a special session and the whole thing resolves in under 72 hours. Like an HOA that posts the rule and then votes to waive it before anyone can raise their hand.
The map was drawn by a DeSantis staffer, who testified before a committee that he had produced a "race-neutral map, without consideration for race." The room laughed. He confirmed he had also used partisan data. The full legislature then voted on the map approximately 90 minutes later. No Republican legislator spoke against it on the House floor. The House passed it 83-28. The Senate, 21-17. Analysts project it flips four U.S. House seats to Republicans ahead of the midterms.
Florida voters passed Amendment 6 in 2010 to specifically prohibit drawing districts that favor a political party. That amendment remains on the books and is available for review during regular business hours. It does not appear to affect this map. Voters who feel their 2010 constitutional mandate deserves acknowledgment are encouraged to note that the amendment was, in fact, consulted. The consultation took less time than the vote.
Reason to Care Florida's Republican-controlled legislature just passed a new congressional redistricting map in under 72 hours that could deliver four additional U.S. House seats to Republicans — and it did so by overriding a constitutional amendment Florida voters enacted in 2010 specifically to ban partisan gerrymandering.
The Facts
- Governor DeSantis convened a special legislative session in April 2026. A congressional redistricting map drawn by a DeSantis staffer passed both chambers in under 72 hours: House 83-28, Senate 21-17, with four Republican defectors in the Senate. (Source: Florida Phoenix — https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/04/29/florida-house-approves-desantis-congressional-redistricting-map/)
- The map's author testified before a committee that he drew a "race-neutral map, without consideration for race." The statement drew audible laughter from the audience. He separately admitted under oath that he used partisan data to draw the map. (Source: Democracy Docket — https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/florida-lawmakers-advance-gop-gerrymander-without-public-input/)
- The full legislature voted to approve the map in approximately 90 minutes. No Republican legislator debated the map on the House floor. (Source: Florida Phoenix — https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/04/29/florida-house-approves-desantis-congressional-redistricting-map/)
- Florida voters passed Amendment 6 in 2010, a constitutional provision explicitly prohibiting the drawing of congressional districts to favor a political party. The DeSantis map faces legal challenges as a violation of that amendment. (Source: Democracy Docket — https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/florida-lawmakers-advance-gop-gerrymander-without-public-input/)
- Analysts project the new map could flip four U.S. House seats to Republicans, with direct implications for control of the full chamber in the upcoming midterm elections. (Source: NPR — https://www.npr.org/2026/04/29/nx-s1-5804703/florida-redistricting-voting-map-republicans-house-seats)
- A majority of Florida voters currently oppose the redistricting plan, according to polling cited in coverage of the special session. (Source: Democracy Docket — https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/florida-lawmakers-advance-gop-gerrymander-without-public-input/)