Florida Supreme Court lets new congressional map remain in place for 2026 midterm elections
The Facts
- The Florida Supreme Court declined to block the state's new congressional map, allowing it to remain in place for the 2026 midterm elections.
- The court's decision was 6-1.
- The justices said they lacked jurisdiction to intervene while the case is still pending in lower courts or before the First District Court of Appeal.
- The ruling did not decide the merits of the challenge to the map.
- Groups challenging the map argue it violates Florida's constitutional prohibition on partisan gerrymandering and had asked courts to keep the previous districts in place.
- Republicans currently hold 20 of Florida's 28 U.S. House seats.
- Multiple reports say the new map could improve Republicans' chances of gaining up to four additional U.S. House seats in Florida.
- The legal challenge to the map is continuing in lower courts even though the districts are set to be used for this election cycle.
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- The 2026 elections will proceed under a map whose legality remains unresolved, because the Florida Supreme Court left it in place on jurisdictional grounds without deciding whether it violates the state's ban on partisan gerrymandering.
- They split on
- Whether the story is about an unresolved map preserving a potentially significant Republican House advantage, or about a court refusing to short-circuit the normal appellate process before the merits have been decided.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
Why did the Florida Supreme Court refuse to block the map?
The justices said they did not have jurisdiction to step in while the case was still being handled by lower courts, including the First District Court of Appeal CBS News,WKMG.
What are challengers arguing against the map?
The plaintiffs say the new districts were drawn to favor Republicans and therefore violate Florida constitutional provisions that bar partisan gerrymandering; they had asked for the previous map to remain in use while the case proceeds Daily Gazette,Aol.
What remains unresolved after this ruling?
The underlying question of whether the map is legal has not been decided. The lawsuit will continue in lower courts, but the Supreme Court's refusal to intervene means the new districts are expected to be used in the 2026 elections Aol,Washington Examiner.
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Wire services (1)
Independent coverage (31)
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