JUST IN: Dems’ Midterm Hopes Take Major Hit After GOP Governor Throws Weight Behind Trump’s Plan

Gov. Ron DeSantis moved Wednesday to jump-start a rare mid-decade redistricting fight, calling a special legislative session for late April that could reshape Florida’s congressional map and carry major implications for control of the U.S. House.

The call came even though Florida lawmakers are already set to open their annual 60-day session next week, underscoring growing tension between the Republican governor and leaders in his own party over when and how to redraw the lines.

House Speaker Daniel Perez, who has a strained relationship with DeSantis, has pushed to take up redistricting during the regular session rather than waiting. DeSantis, however, said in his proclamation that the “Legislature should wait as long as feasible” so the state can get “guidance” from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court is expected to rule later this year in a major voting rights case that could bar states from considering race when drawing district boundaries. DeSantis has argued such a decision would force Florida to revisit districts in South Florida that currently have majority Black and Hispanic voting populations.

The governor set the special session for April 20 through April 24, the same week candidates are scheduled to qualify for federal races. DeSantis noted that state law would push qualifying back to June if new congressional districts are adopted.

DeSantis speaks with attendees at the 2022 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida.
Photo: Gage Skidmore

The gamble could still fall flat. While DeSantis can summon lawmakers to Tallahassee, he cannot force them to act. Senate President Ben Albritton has previously sided with the governor, saying lawmakers should wait until after the regular session before moving forward.

For national Republicans, Florida looms as a potential crown jewel. Party strategists believe a new map could net three to five additional GOP House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms, a swing large enough to help determine which party controls the chamber.

DeSantis already flexed his muscle in 2022, bulldozing through a map that gave Republicans a 20-8 advantage in the state’s House delegation. He renewed calls for mid-decade redistricting last summer as states like Texas and California began exploring their own redraws.

Perez and the House created a redistricting committee last year and have held two preliminary meetings focused on the process and legal groundwork for acting outside the normal census cycle.

In a December interview with POLITICO, Perez dismissed the idea of waiting another year.

“We’re not going to wait until the spring, we’re going to move forward now,” Perez said, calling it “irresponsible” to delay.

Any new map is almost certain to face swift court challenges. Florida voters approved the Fair Districts standards in 2010, banning maps drawn for partisan advantage or to protect incumbents. While a state Supreme Court ruling last year weakened parts of the minority-protection language, the core ban on partisan gerrymandering remains in place.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>