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Florida Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Block DeSantis’ April Redistricting Session

A brief, unanimous order cited procedural limits, leaving the timetable unchanged.

Overview

  • The court denied a petition from two voters backed by the National Redistricting Foundation that sought to stop the April special session and reverse the move of congressional qualifying to June.
  • Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz wrote that the request fell beyond the traditional scope of such petitions, noting the governor’s authority to call a special session and the secretary of state’s role as chief election officer.
  • The ruling keeps plans intact for lawmakers to convene April 20 and preserves the June 8–12 qualifying window for U.S. House candidates.
  • Justice Adam Tanenbaum concurred in the result but argued the case should have been dismissed for pleading defects, emphasizing the court did not reach the merits.
  • Lawmakers have not released draft maps, as DeSantis points to a pending U.S. Supreme Court case from Louisiana and Florida’s 2010 anti-gerrymandering rules frame the next steps, with Florida still the largest state yet to redraw after Texas and California acted last year.