Florida lawmakers are convening Tuesday for a special session that includes redistricting, but the lack of publicly proposed congressional lines has left incumbents and candidates in a state of uncertainty. The potential changes, which could be challenged or blocked in court, are creating confusion as the June 12 filing deadline approaches.
Uncertainty Over New Map
Governor Ron DeSantis has argued that a new map is needed due to population growth since 2020 and a pending Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act. However, the high court has not yet ruled, and the 2020 census data remains the only available figures for drawing districts. This has left candidates scrambling to introduce themselves to new voters late in the cycle, with some facing registration deadlines less than two months away.
Former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), who represented a competitive South Florida seat, described the situation as “extremely unsettling” for incumbents, especially those in competitive districts. “They know they’re going to face headwinds in November, and a lot of them have invested a lot of time and resources into their current constituents,” Curbelo said. “This uncertainty is just very taxing and unnerving.”
Political Implications
Republican incumbents like Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents a vulnerable South Florida seat, have expressed concerns. Salazar told reporters she likes her current lines but acknowledged it’s out of her control if DeSantis wants changes. When asked if redistricting might make her district more competitive, she pivoted to immigration reform. Meanwhile, Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), under a House Ethics Committee probe, downplayed the impact, saying he expects a “fair and equal and balanced approach.”
Democrats are eyeing opportunities to flip seats, particularly in districts that could become more competitive. The uncertainty has also affected candidates like Michael Carbonara, a Republican running for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s seat, who argued that South Florida voters share similar cultures and economies regardless of boundary changes.
State Senate President Ben Albritton (R) told members in a memo Friday that they were still waiting for DeSantis’s office to provide details on redistricting, less than a week before the session. This delay has heightened anxiety among candidates and election officials. Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays, a Republican and former state legislator, said he doesn’t expect major changes to Central Florida but remains prepared for any adjustments.
The broader political context includes ongoing tensions over redistricting, with DeSantis daring critics like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to campaign in Florida. The governor has also faced warnings from strategist Karl Rove that aggressive GOP redistricting could backfire. As the special session begins, all eyes are on Tallahassee for a map that could reshape Florida’s congressional delegation ahead of November.
