Florida lawmakers have approved new congressional voting maps that are expected to boost Republican representation in the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially tipping the balance in the closely contested midterm elections.
The measure, passed along party lines in a 21-17 vote, now heads to Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. The redrawn districts could net Republicans as many as four additional seats, reducing Democratic-leaning districts in Tampa, Orlando, and parts of Florida's southeast coast.
The vote came just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the use of race in drawing electoral maps, a decision that critics say could weaken the Voting Rights Act. Governor DeSantis had predicted the ruling would support his state's redistricting efforts, writing on social media that it invalidates a Florida constitutional provision that required considering race in map-drawing.
Florida is the latest state to enter the national redistricting arms race, following similar moves by Texas and Virginia. Historically, the party of the sitting president tends to lose House seats during midterms, but Florida's new maps could help Republicans defy that trend and maintain control of the chamber.
The midterm elections, set for November, will determine which party controls Congress. Florida currently has 20 Republican House members, seven Democrats, and one vacant Democratic-leaning seat.