Summary
Florida's Supreme Court has decided to keep the current congressional district map in place. This decision comes after a challenge against the removal of a district that formerly had a majority of Black voters in north Florida.
Key Facts
- Florida's Supreme Court upheld the current congressional map, rejecting a challenge about a majority-Black district.
- The removed district previously linked Black communities from Jacksonville to near Tallahassee.
- The court said changing the map would be impermissible racial gerrymandering, which is against equal protection rights.
- Florida's current district map gives Republicans a 20-8 advantage over Democrats.
- Formerly, the removed district was represented by a Black Democrat, Al Lawson.
- A federal panel of judges had earlier upheld the current districts.
- The National Redistricting Foundation expressed concern that the decision reduces Black voting power in Florida.
- Justice Jorge Labarga disagreed, saying the lawsuit should have been allowed further exploration in a lower court.
