Florida lawmakers to debate Gov. DeSantis’ congressional map during special session

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are returning to the state’s Capitol this week for a particular session that will likely be targeted on congressional redistricting.

The legislature is taking over a once-a-decade mapping course of, however final week, management with the state Home and Senate mentioned in a joint assertion that Gov. Ron DeSantis would lead these efforts.

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On Wednesday, the governor launched his proposed map. It shrinks District 5, which runs alongside the state’s northern border and is represented by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat.

“It (the map) will, although, have north Florida drawn in a race-neutral method. We aren’t going to have a 200-mile gerrymander that divvies up folks primarily based on the colour of their pores and skin. That’s incorrect. That isn’t the best way now we have ruled within the state of Florida,” DeSantis mentioned throughout a information convention in Miami final week.

DeSantis’ proposed map comes after he vetoed the map handed by the legislature in March, which prompted the governor to name for this particular session.

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Information 6 political analyst Jim Clark mentioned DeSantis’ map is Republican-favorable. If adopted, the GOP would choose up 4 congressional seats, together with the brand new district that covers Polk and Osceola counties. The state gained this seat alongside the I-4 hall on account of new progress within the space during the last decade.

DeSantis mentioned his map is constitutional.

“They’re going to observe each provision of the structure and statutory legislation. That entails, after all, the Florida structure and it entails sure provisions of federal legislation which they will abide by,” DeSantis mentioned.

However State Senator Linda Stewart, a Democrat who represents District 13 in Orlando, believes DeSantis’ map gained’t be upheld within the courts. She mentioned it doesn’t observe redistricting pointers or federal legislation.

“He’s going to ship his attorneys down to elucidate how his map is authorized but when he doesn’t handle Tier 1. His map is just not authorized. You’ll be able to say it’s, however the courts will determine,” Stewart mentioned. “The governor produced a map that was worse than he initially produced once we have been in (the common) session.”

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The particular session begins on Tuesday. Clark mentioned whereas democrats will oppose DeSantis’ map, they don’t have the numbers to cease it.