Story perspectives

DeSantis Unveils Map to Flip Seats, Democrats Sue

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Ron DeSantis released a redistricting proposal on April 27 for four Democrat-held U.S. House seats, with a session to debate it starting April 28.
DeSantis claims a 2020 census undercount of 760,000 and says race-based districting is unconstitutional, saying the map would change Florida’s delegation from 20R/8D to 24R/4D.
Leaders including state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith and Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried called the plan unconstitutional gerrymandering and announced lawsuits.

History

Historical Context

1962 the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-2 ruling in Baker v. Carr declared legislative redistricting justiciable under the Fourteenth Amendment, ending Tennessee’s failure to redraw districts since 1901. The decision birthed the “one person, one vote” doctrine, later applied in Reynolds v. Sims (1964). Today Governor Ron DeSantis cites a claimed 760,000 2020-census undercount to redraw Florida districts, invoking that precedent.

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Story summary

Governor Ron DeSantis released a redistricting proposal on April 27 for four Democrat-held U.S. House seats, with a session to debate it starting April 28.
DeSantis claims a 2020 census undercount of 760,000 and says race-based districting is unconstitutional, saying the map would change Florida’s delegation from 20R/8D to 24R/4D.
Leaders including state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith and Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried called the plan unconstitutional gerrymandering and announced lawsuits.

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