Governor Ron DeSantis said during a press conference Thursday he is in favor of redrawing the state’s congressional district lines.
This comes as other heavily blue or red states are looking at their own maps in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections and the anticipated fight for control of the U.S. House.
DeSantis said Florida’s population has been changing. And he thinks redistricting—a process that typically happens just once every 10 years--might make sense sooner.
“We're malapportioned right now as a country, I think because of the migration and but the state of Florida, I think for sure. So I think there's ample justification to do it,” he said.
DeSantis had a heavy hand in Florida’s last redistricting process, pressuring the legislature to pass maps that favor the Republican party.
Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled Texas legislature is redrawing its congressional maps after urging from the Trump administration. And leadership in Democrat-controlled states like California have also floated similar moves.
Critics worry the efforts will lead to a partisan gerrymandering arms race as states work to draw maps that favor the party in control potentially giving them an edge at keeping or winning seats in the U.S. House.