DeSantis: Supreme Court Ruling May Affect Florida Congressional Districts

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is highlighting a pivotal case that could reshape congressional maps across the nation, with significant implications for the Sunshine State’s own redistricting battles.In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, DeSantis pointed to Louisiana v. Callais, a case challenging whether states can constitutionally create majority-minority districts to comply with the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

Louisiana appealed, and the Supreme Court has now asked parties to address whether such race-predominant districting violates the 14th or 15th Amendments.

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, argued in supplemental briefing that Section 2 cannot require states to prioritize race in map-drawing, as it would contravene constitutional equal protection principles.

For Florida, the stakes are particularly high. In 2022, DeSantis pushed through a congressional map that dismantled a majority-Black district in North Florida previously held by Democrat Al Lawson. That map was later challenged and partially struck down by state courts for violating Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment, which prohibits diminishing racial minorities’ ability to elect representatives of their choice.

A favorable ruling in Callais could validate similar approaches by limiting federal mandates for race-based districts, potentially allowing Florida to revisit its maps mid-decade without fear of VRA violations.

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, involved in defending the Louisiana map, argues that upholding the challenge would undermine fair representation for Black voters nationwide.

Civil rights groups, including the League of Women Voters, have filed amicus briefs emphasizing the need to preserve Section 2’s protections.

DeSantis’s comments come amid ongoing debates over gerrymandering, with critics accusing both parties of manipulating districts for political gain.