Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) responded to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) after Democrats cautioned against escalating conflict if Florida Republicans proceed with their redistricting proposal.
Regarding Jeffries’ warning, DeSantis remarked, “‘We’re going to wage maximum war against the Republican Party. Republicans of Florida, you guys are hanging around, but you’re going to get found out.’ He suggested that if the redistricting goes through, Democrats might retaliate by trying to unseat their members.
DeSantis added, “Go ahead, good luck,” making it clear that threats wouldn’t intimidate Florida.
“If you want to come here and invest in Florida, take your chances. But don’t expect to threaten us to get your way,” he stated.
DeSantis outlined that the immediate backlash to Jeffries’ comments led to the Florida Legislature moving forward with new maps.
The Florida Legislature approved a congressional map proposed by DeSantis this week, likely giving Republicans four additional seats and raising Florida’s Republican congressional contingent from 20 to 24 members.
DeSantis claimed the new map “more accurately represents the state’s current demographic makeup.”
Mr. Jeffries had previously warned Florida GOP lawmakers after Virginia passed a plan that would grant Democrats four more U.S. House seats.
“If Florida Republicans continue with this illegal plan, it will only create yet another pickup opportunity for Democrats, similar to President Trump’s redistricting in Texas,” Jeffries remarked, naming specific Florida Republicans they intend to focus on.
“We’re going to be taking aim at Mario Diaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Jimenez, Cat Cammack, Anna Paulina Luna, Laurel Lee, Cory Mills, and Brian Mast,” he stated, emphasizing their readiness for a fight, declaring, “We can wage maximum war anytime, anywhere.”
Historically a battleground, Florida has recently become strongly Republican, with registered Republicans surpassing Democrats, officially taking the lead in 2021. Even Miami-Dade County, typically a Democratic stronghold, shifted red for the first time in three decades during the last presidential election.
