On Wednesday, Florida Gov.\u00a0Ron DeSantis\u00a0launched a redistricting effort to potentially secure additional Republican congressional seats in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DeSantis announced<\/a> the move, saying he will be convening a special session for the state legislature to adjust current maps. The move comes as red and blue states across the country have pursued redistricting to secure an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Today, I announced that I will be convening a Special Session of the Legislature focused on redistricting to ensure that Florida\u2019s congressional maps accurately reflect the population of our state. Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally,” DeSantis wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Currently, Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts. Florida Republicans may also face challenges because of language in the state’s constitution that puts tight restrictions on gerrymandering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas and California have also pursued major redistricting efforts, with Texas overcoming some initial pushback from the courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In early December, the Supreme Court delivered a significant victory to Texas Republicans<\/a>, clearing the way for a new congressional map that could add up to five GOP-leaning seats in 2026. In a 6-3 ruling, the justices halted a lower court order and said Texas can use the map while the legal fight plays out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n