The fight over Florida’s congressional borders isn’t quite over, but another confrontation may be brewing. This time the subject is Senate districts.
Lawmakers have returned to the capitol with maps on their minds. In a set of hearings comprising the year’s third special session as well as regular committee hearings, the Legislature will try to forge ahead and forge agreement on the state’s senate districts.
But they’re off to a bumpy start.
Already the chambers disagree on which Senators will stand for election in 2016.
“As far as having to run again,” Sen. Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) says, “it is the Senate Committee on Reapportionment’s position that if you are in a four-year seat, and you have that number you are not going to have to run again.”
Galvano’s comments stand in stark contrast to the position across the rotunda: all Senators will have to run again in 2016. That House argument is bolstered by a 1982 Florida Supreme Court ruling ordering all senators stand for reelection when district borders shift.
