Florida's Redistricting Battle: New Maps & Power Grab

0:00Florida's redistricting battle is heating up fast, with Governor Ron DeSantis pushing hard for a congressional map redo. He's making it clear lawmakers will tackle new maps soon, building on what they did last time. A special session kicks off April 20th, and a drawing fresh lines for the state's 28 districts. The timing might flex a bit as House and Senate leaders wrap up the state budget, but DeSantis says they can drag it out. It has to happen in the next couple weeks, one way or another. Right now, no proposed maps are out, and everyone's waiting on the governor to drop the first version. This mid-decade shake-up ties into a big U.S. Supreme court case on how race factors into district lines under the Voting Rights Act. DeSantis once floored it to move ahead anyway, betting on maps that match whatever the court decides. He's also citing the state's huge population boom, saying old lines don't fit anymore. Republicans hold 20 of those 28 seats, and any changes could target democratic spots in places like Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida.

1:02Democrats are calling it a straight power grab to lock in GOP control ahead of the 2026 midterms. Even some Republicans worry about court fights and backlash. With no maps on the table yet, and details still fuzzy on how far it'll go, this fight could ripple across the country. Keep an eye on Tallahassee. Those new lines will reshape the battleground for years. All news, powered by AI, this is Tampa Bay News Today.