Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is rolling out a new congressional map that could hand Republicans a major boost, laying out a redistricting plan that would net the GOP four additional seats if approved.
The proposal now heads to the Republican-controlled state Legislature. If lawmakers sign off, it would go back to DeSantis for final approval and take effect ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we’ve been fighting for fair representation ever since,” DeSantis told Fox News Digital. “Our population has since grown dramatically, and we have moved from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage. Drawing maps based on race, which is reflected in our current congressional districts, is unconstitutional and should be prohibited.”
“Our new map for 2026 makes good on my promise to conduct mid-decade redistricting, and it more fairly represents the makeup of Florida today,” he added.
Florida’s current congressional delegation includes 20 Republicans and seven Democrats, with one Democratic seat vacant following the resignation of former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
The push comes as redistricting battles heat up nationwide. In Virginia, voters recently backed a constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to redraw congressional districts, a move expected to flip four GOP-held seats to Democrats.
Democrats quickly cheered the shift. Gov. Abigail Spanberger pointed to the vote as a rejection of Republican influence.
“Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is ‘entitled’ to more Republican seats in Congress,” Spanberger said. “Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input — and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.”
The measure passed with 51.5% support, with projections suggesting Democrats could win 10 of the state’s 11 seats. Currently, Democrats hold six seats while Republicans hold five.
A source familiar with DeSantis’ plan told Fox News the Florida effort has been in the works well before Virginia’s move and is driven by population growth rather than political retaliation.
“The governor has been planning this long before what took place in Virginia, and continues to be adamant that Floridians deserve fair representation that accurately reflects the state’s changing population and demographics,” the source said.
California has also drawn scrutiny after implementing its own redistricting changes under Proposition 50, which allows the Democrat-controlled legislature to redraw maps. Early projections show Democrats gaining four seats previously held by Republicans, potentially expanding their advantage to as many as 48 seats in Congress while Republicans could be reduced to just four.
Back in Florida, the proposal is already drawing fire from top Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted the effort and issued a warning to Republicans.
“Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out,” Jeffries said. “If they go down the road of a DeSantis dummymander, the Florida Republicans are gonna find themselves in the same situation as Texas Republicans, who are on the run right now.
“Under no circumstances are Texas Republicans picking up five seats. They’ll be fortunate if they get two or three. While in California, we are going to get all five,” he added.
DeSantis fired back during a news conference, daring Jeffries to campaign in Florida.
“Please. Be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida to campaign,” DeSantis said. “I’ll put you up in the Florida governor’s mansion. We will take you fishing.”
“We’ll do all this stuff. There’s nothing that could be better for Republicans in Florida than to see Jeffries, Hakeem Jeffries, everywhere around this state,” he added.
The redistricting fight is shaping up as a key front in the battle for control of Congress, where narrow majorities have both parties scrambling for any advantage.
House Speaker Mike Johnson backed Florida’s effort, saying the state is well within its rights to redraw its districts.
“Florida has the right and the intention to do it. And my view is that they should,” Johnson said last week.
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