Lawsuit seeks to strike down Florida redistricting plan as unconstitutional

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK) — Equal Ground Education Fund and dozens of individual plaintiffs filed a lawsuit challenging Florida's newly enacted congressional maps signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The lawsuit directly targets the congressional redistricting plan that was proposed by DeSantis and passed by the Florida Legislature. Equal Ground, a Black-led nonpartisan nonprofit focused on building Black political power and civic engagement in Florida, argues the new map violates the state's Fair Districts Amendments through an unlawful mid-decade redistricting process.

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"This map is not just flawed, it is a deliberate and unconstitutional attempt to manipulate our electoral system for partisan gain," said Genesis Robinson, Equal Ground's executive director.

Robinson said the newly enacted map was pushed through in direct violation of the Fair Districts Amendments, which were overwhelmingly passed by Floridians to prevent partisan manipulation of electoral boundaries. The plaintiffs argue state leaders worked together to advance a map designed to benefit those in power rather than uphold their constitutional obligations.

"Florida's Constitution is clear. The Fair Districts Amendments prohibit maps from being drawn to favor a political party or incumbent. Yet this map does exactly that. It weakens the voting power of Floridians and attempts to predetermine electoral outcomes before a single vote is cast. This is not how democracy is supposed to work," Robinson said.

The lawsuit seeks court intervention to strike down the congressional map and ensure any future redistricting complies with Florida's Constitution while protecting voter rights. Equal Ground and the individual plaintiffs argue Floridians deserve fair representation, equal protection and a government that follows its own laws.

View the full complaint here.