Florida Supreme Court Upholds Redistricting, Eliminates Majority-Black District Amid Voting Rights Concerns
July 17, 2025
On July 17, 2025, Florida's Supreme Court upheld the state's congressional redistricting map, which eliminated a majority-Black district in North Florida, a decision influenced by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz stated that a race-predominant district would violate the Constitution's equal protection guarantees, and the court's 5-1 decision rejected challenges from voting rights groups.
The ruling maintains the current districts, which favor Republicans with a 20-8 advantage in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, despite arguments that the map dilutes Black voters' influence.
Historically, a Black Democrat has represented District 5 since the early 1990s, but the district's shape and demographics have been contentious, with recent redistricting efforts reducing Black voting power.
The eliminated district was previously represented by Black Democrat Al Lawson, but the new map divides that area among three Republican representatives, effectively diminishing Black political influence.
Justice Jorge Labarga dissented, arguing that the case should have been remanded to a lower court to allow challengers to propose alternative districts and to better assess the map's compliance with legal standards.
The decision has been described as a 'dark day' for voting rights, signaling a potential attack on Black political power and raising concerns about long-term trust in civic institutions.
A circuit court initially sided with the plaintiffs, but an appellate court reversed that decision, allowing the current map to stand, despite ongoing disputes and challenges.
Plaintiffs had originally requested a ruling on the dismantling of the previous district, which had been represented by Black Democrat Al Lawson, and had agreed to forgo a trial to expedite the case.
DeSantis's office previously vetoed attempts to preserve Black voting power in the district, including a map with a significant Black voter population in Jacksonville, favoring Republican gains.
The Supreme Court noted that the plaintiffs failed to propose a viable alternative map, which weakened their challenge and contributed to the ruling in favor of the current districts.
The majority acknowledged that the new map diminishes Black voters' electoral power but argued that challengers did not demonstrate a viable alternative that met legal standards, a decision seen as a victory for Republicans ahead of the 2026 elections.
Summary based on 11 sources
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Sources

The Guardian • Jul 17, 2025
Florida supreme court upholds congressional map that weakens Black voters’ influence
Los Angeles Times • Jul 17, 2025
Florida congressional districts that eliminated a majority-Black seat upheld by state Supreme Court - Los Angeles Times
Newsweek • Jul 17, 2025
Democrats Dealt Redistricting Blow in Florida as Texas GOP Plans Redraw