Florida House Approves DeSantis-Backed Congressional Map as SCOTUS Strikes Down Louisiana Racial Gerrymander

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House of Representatives on April 28, 2026, approved a new congressional map proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that is expected to deliver up to four additional Republican seats in the state’s 28-district delegation for the 2026 midterms.

The map, drawn during a special legislative session, reflects Florida’s ongoing population growth and strong Republican voter advantage. DeSantis has long argued that previous maps improperly relied on race-based criteria in violation of the Constitution. The new boundaries better align districts with current demographics and traditional redistricting principles.

The approval comes on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map in a 6-3 decision, ruling it was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In that case, the Court held that the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to draw an additional majority-Black district. The ruling directly bolsters Florida’s redraw, particularly in North Florida, where one district had been drawn specifically to create a majority-Black seat.

Legal experts say the Supreme Court decision will make it significantly harder for minority groups to successfully challenge maps under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It narrows the use of race in redistricting nationwide and is expected to have ripple effects in Southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

The Florida map now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate for final approval before DeSantis signs it into law. Democrats have criticized the effort as partisan gerrymandering, but the map is expected to pass easily.

The combined impact of the Florida approval and the Supreme Court’s Louisiana ruling could hand Republicans a substantial net gain in the U.S. House, further solidifying their majority through the end of the decade.