Florida judge blocks effort to halt new GOP House map
Key takeaways
- Florida circuit court Judge Joshua Hawkes, an appointee of Gov.
- DeSantis signed the map into law earlier this month after a short special session he convened in which he pressed lawmakers to pass it.
- Critics who sued over the new map argue that it violates the Florida constitution, which bans lawmakers for redrawing maps for partisan gain or from undercutting minority voters from fair representation.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Florida circuit court Judge Joshua Hawkes, an appointee of Gov. Ron De Santis (R), denied a request from several groups to temporarily pause using a new GOP-friendly map in Florida that aims to net Republicans several seats in November.
DeSantis signed the map into law earlier this month after a short special session he convened in which he pressed lawmakers to pass it. The new map could impact as many as four Democrats in the state, which currently has a 20-8 GOP advantage in its congressional delegation.
Critics who sued over the new map argue that it violates the Florida constitution, which bans lawmakers for redrawing maps for partisan gain or from undercutting minority voters from fair representation. They also argue that the map has become less compact, urging the court to block it from being used before the November elections.