Lawsuits challenge DeSantis redistricting plan affecting Lee, Collier counties

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Several lawsuits have been filed claiming Gov. Ron DeSantis' redistricting proposal is unconstitutional and considered gerrymandering.

DeSantis signed his redistricting proposal into law Monday, which would create a new congressional map for Florida, potentially putting Republicans at an advantage with four new seats. The fate of the governor's plan now rests with the courts.

Lee County Democrats told WINK News they hope the law gets struck down and Florida sticks with the original mapping. Lee County Republicans said they hope the courts move the law forward so they can focus on educating voters on their new congressional candidates.

The redistricting bill passed quickly through the House and Senate last week. The newly proposed District 17 would include all of the city limits of Fort Myers with Charlotte and southern Sarasota County, something that's never been done before.

Although the two have differing opinions on the law, the Lee County Democratic Party and the Republican Party said that if this passes, they will have to work diligently to educate voters on their new congressional candidates.

"It doesn't scare me so much as annoys me, because it's making things confusing and complicated for the voters, people who thought they knew who their candidates were and what the situations in their districts were are now finding out that the candidates they expected to vote for are not going to be on their ballot anymore, and they've got new candidates who they have never met," said Jim Rosinus, Lee County Democratic Party chair.

"Seeing the lawsuit today was just a typical reaction to what Governor DeSantis is trying to do," said Mercedes Price-Harry, Lee County Republican chair. "The candidates are the ones that I'm obviously concerned about, as well as the voters, because we need our job is to educate voters, and the North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Alva area may not end up voting for the 19th district, same with Southern Naples, so there's going to be some confusion for some… our goal is to make sure that everyone is educated."

The courts will determine what is next for this law.