Florida Supreme Court Upholds GOP Congressional Map Despite Challenges

WHO:

Democracy Docket - The Florida Supreme Court, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Justice Jorge Labarga, Justice Adam S. Tanenbaum, Florida Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R), a group of Florida voters, and voting rights advocates.

WHAT:

Democracy Docket - The Florida Supreme Court upheld the GOP-drawn congressional map, allowing it to be used in the 2026 midterms.

Democracy Docket - The court's majority declined to weigh in on the map itself.

Democracy Docket - The GOP could gain up to four more seats in Congress with the new map.

Democracy Docket - A lawsuit was filed on May 4 arguing the new GOP map violates Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment (FDA).

Democracy Docket - Judge Hawkes denied the plaintiffs' request to block the map for the 2026 midterms.

Democracy Docket - Justice Labarga stated that the court should have intervened, emphasizing the stakes for Floridians.

Democracy Docket - Justice Tanenbaum argued there was no need for special treatment in this case.

WHERE:

Democracy Docket - Florida.

WHEN:

Democracy Docket - The new congressional map will be used in the 2026 midterms.

WHY:

Democracy Docket - The map was drawn at the insistence of Gov. DeSantis, despite opposition from within his party and Democrats.

Democracy Docket - Judge Hawkes concluded that the new map is the better option due to compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callis.

HOW:

Democracy Docket - The Florida legislature passed the map, which was drawn by the governor’s office.

Democracy Docket - The plaintiffs appealed the ruling, and the Florida Supreme Court granted expedited briefing on the case.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 16:28 UTC)

The Florida Supreme Court has upheld the GOP-drawn congressional map, allowing it to be used in the upcoming 2026 midterms, which could potentially give the GOP up to four additional seats in Congress. Despite a lawsuit filed on May 4 arguing that the new map violates Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment, Judge Joshua Hawkes denied the request to block it, while Justice Jorge Labarga expressed concern that the court should have intervened. The map was drawn at the insistence of Governor Ron DeSantis and passed by the Florida legislature, with the court's majority opting not to weigh in on the map itself.