A new congressional district map in Florida designed to potentially enhance Republican electoral prospects is facing a legal challenge over claims it violates the state constitution’s ban on partisan gerrymandering. On Friday, attorneys representing voters appeared before a state court to seek an injunction preventing the use of the recently approved districts in the upcoming midterm elections, requesting instead that previous congressional boundaries be reinstated. The presiding judge has not indicated when a ruling might be issued.

The Florida Legislature approved the new map on April 29 during a special two-day session, with Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signing it into law. The redistricting effort is seen as an opportunity for the GOP to increase its current 20 of 28 House seats, possibly gaining four additional seats in November. This effort forms part of a broader wave of mid-decade redistricting initiated after the 2020 census, with several Republican-led states seeking to redraw maps favorable to their party.

The push for redistricting gained momentum last year following former President Donald Trump’s call for Texas Republicans to redraw congressional districts. Republican lawmakers in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama believe they can collectively net about 15 additional House seats through new maps. Conversely, Democrats see opportunities for gains in states like California and Utah, targeted for six potential pickups. Virginia Democrats faced a setback when the state Supreme Court ruled last week that a recently approved Democratic map was placed on the ballot in violation of legislative procedures. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to reinstate the Democratic-favored map.

The controversy over redistricting intersects with efforts in several Southern states to eliminate majority-minority districts that typically favor Democratic candidates. This dynamic emerged strongly after the U.S. Supreme Court’s April 29 ruling that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections, including striking down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana.

In Tennessee, the impact of redistricting was underscored Friday as Democratic Representative Steve Cohen announced he would not seek reelection. His decision followed Tennessee Republican lawmakers’ approval of a new House map that dismantled Cohen’s majority-Black district in Memphis, giving Republicans a chance to capture all nine of the state's congressional seats.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling affirmed that federal courts lack jurisdiction to adjudicate claims of excessive partisan gerrymandering, but left the door open for such disputes to be resolved in state courts under state constitutions and laws. Florida’s ongoing legal challenge reflects that approach, highlighting the complex and contentious nature of redistricting battles shaping the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.