LEON COUNTY, Fla. (SNN TV) – A Florida judge has ruled the state’s congressional map unconstitutional and prohibited the map from being used in future elections.
Governor Ron DeSantis pushed this map last year. When DeSantis introduced his own congressional map, Florida Democrats accused him of diminishing the voices of black voters. On Saturday, a Florida judge agreed.
“The court dismissed the state’s efforts to defend these districts. I suspect right now we’re staring at an expedited path to the state Supreme Court,” said Dr. Michael Binder, a professor of political science at the University of North Florida.
At issue is a seat formerly held by congressman Al Lawson, a black Democrat.
Last year, DeSantis vetoed a map by the Florida legislature. Statistical website FiveThirtyEight showed the legislature’s map would’ve resulted in eight Democratic leaning seats, 15 Republican-leaning seats and five competitive seats. It would have largely kept Lawson’s seat intact in north Florida.
