Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposed new U.S. House map on Monday that could give Republicans four additional congressional seats in the state legislature in the 2026 midterm elections this November.
The proposal would redraw Florida's 28 congressional districts and, if approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, could shift the state's delegation from 20 Republicans and eight Democrats to as many as 24 Republicans and four Democrats based on current results. The map targets Democratic-held districts in some of Florida's most populous and politically diverse areas, including Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
DeSantis said the plan was a response to population growth and Florida's rightward political shift. In a statement to Fox News, he said, "Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we've been fighting for fair representation ever since." He added that Florida has moved "from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage" and argued that current districts reflect race-based line drawing that he called unconstitutional.
The proposal now heads to state lawmakers, who are expected to debate it in a special legislative session. Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, but the map could still face legal challenges under Florida's Fair Districts amendments, which voters approved in 2010 to bar districts drawn to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.
Democrats quickly denounced the plan as a partisan power grab. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has criticized the Florida redistricting push and warned that Democrats would fight back, including with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign targeting vulnerable Republicans in the state.
The fight is part of a broader battle over electoral maps across the country ahead of the 2026 midterms. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday formally reinstated a Republican-favored Texas map that could help the GOP gain up to five House seats there. At the same time, other states have pursued or debated new maps that could reshape the balance of power in Washington. Republicans have pursued maps favorable to their party in states like Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. In Virginia, a new map was voted in last week that could flip four Republican U.S. House seats for the midterms.
DeSantis was also a strong advocate for Florida's last congressional map. In 2022, he pushed a plan that dismantled a north Florida district represented by a Black Democrat, prompting lawsuits and national criticism. The Florida Supreme Court ultimately allowed that map to stand, and Republicans gained four seats that year, expanding their advantage in the state's delegation.
