How redistricting changed who Central Florida voters choose for Congress

ORLANDO, Fla. – When voters go to the polls in August and November, they could discover a change of their congressional candidates and districts.

Each 10 years, states redraw the districts for representatives in any respect ranges of presidency primarily based on U.S. Census knowledge, in a course of referred to as redistricting. Based mostly on these inhabitants numbers, Florida gained one other U.S. Home district for 2022 — from 27 representatives to twenty-eight.

[RESULTS 2022: Everything you need to know about elections in Florida | How to make sure you are eligible to vote in Florida | Election misinformation abounds. We debunk 34 Florida myths]

Advert

In Florida, districts are purported to be compact and consultant of the demographics of the state, per the Honest Districts amendments handed by voters in 2010. They’re additionally not meant to be drawn to profit one political get together over one other.

When Florida’s Republican-led legislature selected a brand new congressional map, which was drawn by Gov. DeSantis’ workplace, they modified a number of districts within the Central Florida space.

Slide the bar in between the 2 maps under to see the distinction between the congressional districts in 2020 and the congressional districts in 2022.

The very first thing to note is that voters in northwest Marion County who might have been in U.S. Home District 2 are actually in U.S. Home District 3, represented by Republican Kat Cammack.

Advert

The east aspect of Marion County and the northern a part of Lake County might now discover themselves in U.S. Home District 6, represented by Republican Michael Waltz.

In the meantime, you’ll discover southern Volusia County is now not in U.S. Home District 6. These voters are actually a part of Home District 7. In reality, District 7 has undergone a really drastic change.

Lets take a more in-depth take a look at the districts that make up Metro Orlando.

U.S. Home District 7, at the moment represented by Democrat Stephanie Murphy, used to embody Seminole County and a bit of Orange County that prolonged down into Orlando. This made the district extra of a “swing district,” a extra even mixture of Republican and Democratic voters, and gave a Democrat an opportunity.

The brand new District 7 now encompasses extra of the Republican voters of Volusia County and none of Orange County’s Democrats. Whereas it’s nonetheless a swing district, it is extremely possible this district will change into a Republican one in 2022, based on polling specialists.

Advert

Murphy had already determined to retire earlier than the district was redrawn.

That a part of Orange County that was in District 7 is now a part of District 10. So is a part of District 9. District 10, at the moment represented by Democrat Val Demings (who’s leaving the U.S. Home to run for U.S. Senate), used to embody most of west Orange County. Now it stretches throughout the middle of the county, and its western boundary has shifted east.

All the pieces from Zellwood right down to Disney World, together with the rising Horizons West space, is in District 11, which is represented by Republican Daniel Webster.

District 11′s western boundary has additionally shifted, ending at Sumter County’s western boundary.

This additionally takes the entire booming 4 Corners space out of District 15, which has moved west. It solely represents part of western Polk County. The remainder of Polk County is now represented by Home District 18.

Advert

Need to see what congressional district you’re in now?

Take a look at the total 2022 congressional map and use the zoom-in software on the left of the map to search out the place you reside.

The brand new congressional map drawn by the Florida Legislature is at the moment being litigated by the coalition that pushed the Honest Districts amendments, saying the map is unconstitutional as a result of it dilutes districts that have been closely represented by minorities, like District 10.

The Florida Supreme Courtroom, nevertheless, refused to dam the map till the problem has been absolutely settled by the courts, so for now the map and the newly-drawn districts will stand for 2022.

In the meantime, you possibly can see the brand new maps for the Florida Home of Consultant districts HERE, and the brand new Florida Senate districts HERE.

Advert

Get as we speak’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Each day: