Florida approves US House map meant to boost Republicans in midterms
Florida's legislature has approved a new congressional map proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis, designed to significantly increase Republican representation in the U.S. House. This map, passed shortly after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, could shift Florida's House delegation advantage to 24 Republicans and 4 Democrats, up from the current 20-8 split. The redistricting targets Democratic strongholds in central and south Florida, potentially impacting incumbent representatives. DeSantis and his team claim the map accounts for population shifts and is "race-neutral," though it is expected to face legal challenges due to the state constitution's prohibition of partisan redistricting. The changes appear to anticipate and leverage the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a Black-majority district in Louisiana.