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DeSantis Calls Special Redistricting Session; Democrats Say It Benefits Them

4/25/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session next week to consider mid-decade congressional redistricting.
The Florida Legislature will meet in Tallahassee to debate new lines despite no map released.
Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, say the plan violates anti-gerrymandering rules and could help Democrats win seats.
GOP consultants and Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) doubt redistricting will yield net Republican gains.

History

Historical Context

Supreme Court’s 1962 Baker v. Carr ruling, authored by Chief Justice Earl Warren, established that courts could enforce the “one-person-one-vote” principle first articulated in Gray v. Sanders (1963). Since then, 44 states must redraw congressional maps after each census, though mid-decade plans like Florida’s 2024 special session spark fresh legal battles involving Governor Ron DeSantis and Rep. María Elvira Salazar.

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Story summary

Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session next week to consider mid-decade congressional redistricting.
The Florida Legislature will meet in Tallahassee to debate new lines despite no map released.
Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, say the plan violates anti-gerrymandering rules and could help Democrats win seats.
GOP consultants and Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) doubt redistricting will yield net Republican gains.

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