Florida Supreme Court lets GOP congressional map stand

The Florida Supreme Court has declined to block the state's newly enacted congressional redistricting map, a decision that ensures the Republican-drawn boundaries will be used for the 2026 midterm elections. The court ruled 6-1 on Wednesday, June 10, that it lacked jurisdiction to intervene in an ongoing legal challenge currently before a lower appellate court.

The ruling represents a significant procedural victory for Republicans, effectively locking in a map that analysts say could net the party up to four additional U.S. House seats from Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis, who spearheaded the redistricting effort, signed the map into law after it was approved by the Republican-controlled legislature in a two-day special session in late April. Following the court's decision, DeSantis declared on social media that the map would be in place for the election, while Attorney General James Uthmeier called the ruling a "complete and total victory."

The legal challenge, brought by voting rights groups and represented by Democratic lawyer Marc Elias, argues the map violates Florida's Fair Districts amendment. That voter-approved provision, added to the state constitution in 2010,...