Darren Soto

📞 (202) 225-2701

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a new congressional redistricting map into law on May 4, 2026, potentially flipping four Democratic House seats to Republican by redrawing districts in Tampa, Orlando, and South Florida. The map targets Reps. Kathy Castor, Darren Soto, Lois Frankel, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and was drawn entirely by DeSantis's office rather than the legislature. The Florida Legislature approved it 83-28 in the House and 21-17 in the Senate after a three-day special session with minimal public testimony. Hours after the signing, the Equal Ground Education Fund files a 71-page lawsuit in Leon County arguing the map violates Florida's voter-approved Fair Districts Amendment, which bans both partisan gerrymandering and maps that dilute minority voting power. DeSantis's office argues the race-related prong of the amendment is now void under Callais — and that if one prong falls, the entire amendment, including the partisan gerrymandering ban, is nullified.

The Florida House approved Governor DeSantis's proposed congressional map in an 83-28 party-line vote on April 29, 2026, followed by the Florida Senate in a 21-17 vote. The map targets four Democratic incumbents: Kathy Castor (Tampa), Darren Soto (Orlando), Lois Frankel (West Palm Beach), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fort Lauderdale). DeSantis had unveiled the 24-4 map on April 27, the day before the special session opened. If enacted, the map would increase Republican representation from 20 to 24 seats out of Florida's 28 congressional districts.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issues a proclamation on January 7, 2026, calling for a special legislative session in April 2026 to redraw the state's congressional districts. DeSantis cites an expected Supreme Court ruling as justification, signaling advance knowledge of the pending Louisiana v. Callais decision. Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd moves the congressional primary qualifying deadline to June to accommodate new maps. DeSantis has long targeted the seats of four Democratic members — Reps. Kathy Castor, Darren Soto, Lois Frankel, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz — as part of a plan to expand Florida's Republican congressional delegation from 20 to 24 seats.