Judge Strikes Down Florida Congressional Map as ‘Unconstitutional’

A congressional map drawn by DeSantis has been rejected by a Florida judge who claimed it diminished black voters’ ability to vote.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives a press conference in Steinhatchee, Fla., on Aug. 31, 2023. Sean Rayford/Getty Images

A Florida judge struck down congressional district lines approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis, ruling that the map was “unconstitutional” as it diluted minority voting power in the region.

“This Court will declare the enacted map unconstitutional and enjoin the Secretary of State from using that map in future congressional elections,” said the Saturday ruling (pdf) by Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh. The map will be returned to the Legislature for a redrawing as “plaintiffs have shown that the Enacted Plan results in the diminishment of black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice in violation of the Florida Constitution.”