A Leon County Circuit Judge ruled today, keeping Florida’s mid-decade congressional map in place while the lawsuits continue and election officials prepare for the 2026 races. The judge found that plaintiffs had not shown a substantial likelihood of success, writing that the evidence presented so far was circumstantial and not direct proof of illegal intent.
Plaintiffs already filed notices of appeal, and the lawsuits will continue to trial. The lawsuit alleges that the GOP-controlled Legislature and Governor DeSantis enacted a map that violates the State’s 2010 Fair Districts Amendments, which prohibit drawing congressional (and state legislative) districts that favor incumbents or a political party. The fight is likely to end at the Florida Supreme Court, where DeSantis appointed six of seven justices, and all seven were appointed by Republican governors. The ruling effectively locks in the DeSantis map, which could net Republicans up to four additional seats for the 2026 midterms.
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