Full Breakdown
Florida Judge Upholds Contested 2026 Congressional Map Amid Partisan Gerrymandering Claims
5/27/2026, 2:53:01 AM
Judge Upholds Contested 2026 Congressional Map
On May 26, 2026, Tallahassee Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes denied a request for a temporary injunction, allowing the congressional map signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to remain in effect for the upcoming primary and general elections.
Legislative and Judicial Background
Florida’s 2010 Fair Districts amendment bars partisan redistricting. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2019 decision placed partisan-gerrymandering claims under state jurisdiction, and a recent Louisiana ruling weakened the Voting Rights Act’s race-based protections. President Donald Trump has urged GOP-led states to adopt mid-decade maps.
Key Figures and Groups
Judge Joshua Hawkes, a DeSantis appointee, presided over the case. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the map, which senior analyst Jason Poreda admitted drawing with partisan data. Plaintiffs include Common Cause Florida (Amy Keith), Equal Ground Education Fund, Elias Law Group (Christina Ford), UCLA Voting Rights Project (Chad Dunn), Campaign Legal Center, Southern Poverty Law Center, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and Democracy Defenders Fund.
Data and Projected Impact
The map could add up to four Republican seats, shifting Florida’s delegation from a 20-8 to a possible 24-4 split. Voter registration is roughly 41 % Republican, 30 % Democrat, and 28 % unaffiliated, with the changes affecting Tampa Bay, Orlando and South Florida.
Official Statements & Responses
Hawkes wrote that the plaintiffs had not shown a likelihood of success and that the primary (under three months) and general election (under six months) required certainty over a judicial mandate. Plaintiffs announced an appeal, emphasizing the voter-approved ban on partisan maps. DeSantis posted a brief message on X urging implementation of the map, arguing it addresses population shifts.
Criticism & Opposition
Plaintiffs contend the map violates the Fair Districts amendment, citing Poreda’s admission of using partisan data and the map’s red-blue color coding shown to Fox News. Amy Keith said the suit defends Floridians’ anti-gerrymandering vote; Christina Ford called the evidence “staggering.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The election machinery of the state is already underway,” — Judge Joshua Hawkes
- “On partisan intent: The evidence here is staggering, and defendants barely attempt to rebut it,” — Christina Ford, Elias Law Group
- “Let's roll!” — Ron DeSantis, on X
- “Because Floridians of all political backgrounds are so clearly against partisan gerrymandering, we will exhaust all legal options to make sure a map this partisan does not last the rest of this decade.” — Amy Keith, Common Cause Florida
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Plaintiffs argue the map breaches the Fair Districts amendment; Judge Hawkes found insufficient proof of partisan intent. No court has yet ruled on the amendment’s constitutionality, leaving the legal standard unsettled.
What’s Next
The plaintiffs have appealed to the Florida Court of Appeals. Candidate filing for U.S. House seats runs June 8-12; the primary is Aug. 18 and the general election in November. The appeal’s outcome could reshape the delegation and affect the 2026 midterms.
