A Florida judge ruled that a congressional map backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was unconstitutional on Saturday, and ordered lawmakers to create an alternative.
Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh concluded that the redrawn districts authorized by DeSantis specifically in northern Florida violated the state constitution’s Fair Districts Amendments by “dismantling a congressional district that enabled Black voters to elect their candidates of choice under the previous plan.”
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The Fair Districts Amendment, which is enshrined in the state constitution, states that lawmakers can’t redraw congressional districts that “diminish” minority voters’ ability to elect someone of their choice.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd told Politico that he disagrees with Marsh’s ruling and that the state will appeal it to the state Supreme Court.
The case originated from a lawsuit brought by various groups, including Black Voters Matter, Equal Ground, Florida Rising, and the League of Women Voters of Florida that sued over the new maps in April 2022, after DeSantis signed the new congressional maps into law.
“This is a significant victory in the fight for fair representation for Black Floridians. As a result, the current discriminatory map should be replaced