Florida lawmakers approve new voting maps to favour Republicans

But if Florida's bill is signed into law, Republicans will seemingly have a net gain. That could tip the scales in the closely watched midterm elections in November. Historically, the party of the sitting president tends to lose House seats during the midterms. If Democrats win the House in this November's contest race, it will not only serve a blow to Trump's political agenda, but it could open him up to Democratic-led congressional investigations.Florida currently has 20 Republicans in the House and seven Democrats, with one vacant Democratic-leaning seat. The new map approved in a 21-17 vote by state legislatures seeks to reduce Democratic-leaning districts in Tampa, Orlando and parts of the state's southeast coast, according to US partner, CBS.Each of the newly-drawn districts could play a role in determining which political party takes the House, or lower chamber of Congress.The Florida legislature's approval of a new map came hours after the US Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, in a ruling that could reshape politics across the American south.