DeSantis Calls Special Session to Redraw Florida Districts

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session starting April 28 to redraw the state's congressional districts, a move aimed at updating maps to reflect recent population shifts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The effort comes amid a nationwide push by both parties to reshape boundaries for partisan advantage, following Virginia voters' approval this week of a referendum that strengthens Democratic control there.

DeSantis announced the session in January, citing the influx of more than two million new residents to Florida since 2020 as a key reason the current maps no longer accurately represent the population. He has also tied the timing to an anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Louisiana v. Callais, which could alter interpretations of the Voting Rights Act and affect how states draw districts to avoid diluting minority voting power. "Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally," DeSantis said earlier this year. The governor postponed the session from an earlier date to allow his office time to propose a new map, and he has denied any direct connection to Virginia's vote, stating last week...