(Consolidated with Equal Ground Education, et al., v Byrd, et al. and Vaccari, et al., v. Byrd, et al.)
Case Summary
Common Cause, the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL), and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), and Democracy Defenders Fund, filed a lawsuit to block the 2026 Florida Congressional map, alleging the map violates Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment.
In April 2026, Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session to redraw Florida’s congressional map — one his own mapmaker acknowledged was drawn using partisan data. The result: 20 of the state’s 28 districts were redrawn to heavily favor Republicans.
In their complaint filed in the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County, plaintiffs alleged the new map specifically violates the Fair Districts Amendment, which prohibits the state legislature from drawing maps that favor one political party. More than 60% of Florida voters approved the amendments in 2010.
On May 14, 2026, the case was consolidated with two others challenging the map. Plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction to block the map from being used in the upcoming election. On May 26, Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Joshua Hawkes denied that request.
Soon after, Common Cause Plaintiffs filed a passthrough motion and opening brief asking that the Florida Supreme Court take up the case on an expedited basis, arguing the maps violated the state constitution and that time was running out. On June 10, the Florida Supreme Court ruled the newly drawn, gerrymandered map could be used in the upcoming midterm elections.
Plaintiffs continue to fight for a fair Florida congressional map as the case proceeds through the trial court.
Why it’s Important
More than half of Florida voters approved the amendment to the Florida State Constitution in 2010 that protected congressional maps from partisan gerrymandering. The redrawing of the 2026 congressional map was intentionally partisan and goes against both fair representation and the will of Florida voters. To achieve its partisan goals, the 2026 map targets the political power of minority voters throughout the state.
