Florida Governor DeSantis given power to gerrymander state’s electoral maps

Governor seems eager to eliminate two congressional districts with large Black electorates giving Republicans a 20-8 edge

The Florida legislature will allow Governor Ron DeSantis to take the lead on redrawing the state's 28 congressional districts, a highly unusual move that will probably diminish Black political power in the state and allow Republicans to further distort the state's map to their advantage.

State legislatures, including Florida's, usually draw a proposal for a plan that the governor approves or rejects. DeSantis vetoed the GOP-controlled legislature's proposed congressional districts on 29 March after proposing his own map that would increase the number of GOP seats while eliminating two districts represented by Black Democrats. Leaders in the legislature said on Monday that they would not try to draft a new plan ahead of a special session next week, but instead were waiting for DeSantis, a likely 2024 presidential candidate, to submit his own plan.