Judge strikes down Florida governor’s ‘unconstitutional’ election map

Blow to Ron DeSantis as judge says new congressional districts made it harder for Black voters to elect their preferred candidates

A state judge struck down new congressional districts in north Florida on Wednesday, saying that Governor Ron DeSantis, who drew the lines, had made it harder for Black voters to elect the candidate of their choice.

I am finding the enacted map is unconstitutional because it diminishes African Americans' ability to elect candidates of their choice," circuit judge Layne Smith said on Wednesday, according to the Tributary. Lawyers for the state of Florida are expected to immediately appeal the ruling, and the Florida supreme court will probably ultimately decide the case.