Florida voters are facing an unprecedented threat to fair representation.

On January 7, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the Florida Legislature into a special session from April 20–24 to redraw congressional districts—just four years after maps were last set, and just months before candidates are supposed to qualify for the 2026 elections. This rushed, mid-decade redistricting is not routine. It is a political power grab.

This move places Florida squarely in a national effort pushed by Donald Trump to reshape congressional maps before the midterms and lock in partisan advantage. Trump has openly warned Republicans that they must “win the midterms,” and Florida is being treated as a tool in that strategy. With Republicans already holding 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional seats, the goal is clear: carve up districts to squeeze out one or two more Democratic seats—particularly in South Florida.

Governor DeSantis claims this redistricting is necessary because of possible future changes to the Voting Rights Act or population shifts since the 2020 Census. But Florida voters already addressed this exact abuse of power. In 2010, we passed the Fair Districts Amendments to the Florida Constitution, explicitly banning maps drawn to favor or disfavor a political party. Mid-decade redistricting for partisan gain is illegal in Florida—period.

We’ve seen this playbook before. In 2022, DeSantis overrode the Legislature, forced through his own congressional map, and dismantled a historically Black district. Now he’s back, demanding lawmakers move even faster, while delaying candidate qualifying and pressuring them with an artificial deadline designed to limit debate and public scrutiny.

The stakes are enormous. Entire regions—especially South Florida—could see their representation completely reshaped. Competitive districts could be dismantled. Communities could be split. Voters could lose meaningful choices at the ballot box.

This is not how democracy works. Lawmakers should not be allowed to choose their voters.

We call on Governor Ron DeSantis, House Speaker Daniel Perez, Senate President Ben Albritton, and all members of the Florida Legislature to immediately reject this special-session redistricting effort and refuse to redraw Florida’s congressional maps.

Florida’s Constitution is clear. Our voices are clear. And we will not stay silent while our democracy is carved up for political gain.