Story perspectives

DeSantis Plans Controversial Redistricting Ahead of 2026 Midterms

12/4/2025

Summary

Story summary

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) plans a special session in 2026 to redraw Florida's maps.
The move follows a national trend of Republican-led states redrawing maps before the 2026 midterms.
Timing depends on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.
Critics including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) say the plan violates Florida's Fair Districts amendment.

History

Historical Context

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the South. Following the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, which invalidated the Act's coverage formula, many states enacted restrictive voting laws. By 2020, 29 states had implemented changes affecting voting rights, raising concerns about compliance with civil rights protections established decades earlier.

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Story summary

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) plans a special session in 2026 to redraw Florida's maps.
The move follows a national trend of Republican-led states redrawing maps before the 2026 midterms.
Timing depends on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.
Critics including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) say the plan violates Florida's Fair Districts amendment.

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