Governor Ron DeSantis has officially called for a special session on redistricting to take place in April.
Florida Democrats are pushing back on the move calling the effort to draw new congressional maps ahead of the midterms a partisan effort.
Redistricting typically happens once a decade after each Census. But several states have launched mid-decade efforts at the request of President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said after DeSantis’ announcement she believes the states reasons for drawing new maps are partisan reasons and she says that’s a violation of the state constitution.
“Trump wants to rig the midterm elections to prevent the American people from holding his administration accountable. The Fair District's amendments to the Florida Constitution outlaws drawing maps to benefit one party over another, and that's exactly what Trump has asked the legislature to do,” she said.
Republicans in the state legislature have denied that redistricting is happening for partisan reasons, but state Republican Party leadership has publicly said they think new maps could be redrawn to give the GOP as many as five more Congressional seats.