MIAMI – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has firsthand experience dealing with district conflicts.
After the 2020 census, DeSantis will revisit Congressional lines, claiming the maps fell short in representing minority voters and faced a legal challenge. With a major redistricting battle ongoing in Texas attracting national attention, Florida aims to redraw its Congressional boundaries to support President Trump and the GOP’s majority in Washington.
“We were at the Institute here in Florida,” remarked Fernando Amandy, a Democratic strategist in Miami. “[DeSantis] managed to pull it off, and it really showcased the success of his approach.”
Amandy’s perspective on the party’s outlook wasn’t very bright.
“I think we should prepare for the worst,” he stated.
Last week, DeSantis revived themes from past battles, backing a recent Florida Supreme Court decision that upheld his post-2020 census map.
He has also pushed for further redistricting efforts in the state.
“From what I’m seeing in the Florida Supreme Court analysis, I believe there are still issues that need addressing beyond what we’ve done,” DeSantis told reporters during a press briefing last week. “The population shifts in Florida since the 2020 census seem disproportionate.”
“So, it seems fitting to proceed with redistricting in the middle of this year,” he concluded.
As political discussions heat up around redistricting, some Republicans assert that DeSantis is merely showcasing his strength.
“You don’t need to win a battle outright; you just need to indicate your willingness to fight,” said Republican strategist Doug Haye regarding DeSantis’ latest claims.
Gregory Coger, a political science professor at the University of Miami, noted that further redistricting efforts might not be easy for DeSantis, especially with the aim of revising fair district provisions.
Nonetheless, Coger mentioned that such provisions wouldn’t necessarily prevent the governor if he moves forward.
“I think he’s still in the game. He holds a law degree from Harvard but has shown little hesitation in pursuing legally dubious strategies,” Coger added.
“DeSantis’ political play seems to involve keeping up with ongoing initiatives in other GOP-led states,” he said. “If Texas moves forward, it could spark his interest in aligning Florida’s actions with theirs.”
However, Democrats warn that altering districts off-cycle presents risks, especially as DeSantis eyes the 2028 election.
“If he overreaches, he could lose more than he gains, heightening chances for a significant backlash. This would not bode well for him as he navigates his political future,” they asserted.
“As someone focused on 2028, people might question: ‘Can we really trust you with our political future?’
DeSantis’ new plans coincide with actions by Democratic governors in California, Illinois, and New York, who are threatening to redraw their legislative lines in response to Texas’ redistricting efforts.
Some analysts express concern over the consequences of these mid-cycle changes, regardless of which party is involved.
Grantley Herr, director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute at Syracuse University, commented, “Such actions from both parties are generally detrimental to the political landscape, state governance, and citizens. It doesn’t present a wise image for either party.”
“The American political system is already one of the most complex and fractured in the West, and these moves are exacerbating that issue,” he added.
Yet, some observers argue that Republican tactics aren’t as problematic, noting DeSantis’s continued strategy in Florida.
“Many people commend the Republican majority… looking forward to what DeSantis can achieve in 2022 and 2024,” Amandy said. “He’s the one who rejected previous maps to create his own lines that he believes are more effective.”
Amandy concluded that DeSantis has paved the way for “a new era of what American representative democracy could entail.”
“No one really knows where this is headed, since it’s uncharted territory,” he added.
