DeSantis’ move, secretly aided by GOP-linked national operatives, came over the objections of the Republican-controlled state legislature.
by Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was incensed. Late last year, the state’s Republican legislature had drawn congressional maps that largely kept districts intact, leaving the GOP with only a modest electoral advantage.
DeSantis threw out the legislature’s work and redrew Florida’s congressional districts, making them far more favorable to Republicans. The plan was so aggressive that the Republican-controlled legislature balked and fought DeSantis for months. The governor overruled lawmakers and pushed his map through.
DeSantis’ office has publicly stressed that partisan considerations played no role and that partisan operatives were not involved in the new map.
A ProPublica examination of how that map was drawn — and who helped decide its new boundaries — reveals a much different origin story. The new details show that the governor’s office appears to have misled the public and the state legislature and may also have violated Florida law.
DeSantis aides worked behind the scenes with an attorney who serves as the national GOP’s top redistricting lawyer and other consultants tied to the national party apparatus, according to records and interviews.
Florida’s constitution was amended in 2010 to prohibit partisan-driven redistricting, a landmark effort in the growing movement to end gerrymandering as an inescapable feature of American politics.
Recent Posts
This May Day, Let’s Follow The Lead Of Immigrant Workers
May 1, 2024
Take Action Now Let’s follow the lead of immigrant workers organizing for a world without borders — this May Day and beyond. by David Bennion and…
UK Students Begin New Wave Of Protests Against Gaza War After US Arrests
May 1, 2024
Take Action Now Protests planned in Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle and other universities in show of solidarity with Palestinians By Sally…
Police Storm Columbia’s Campus And Violently Arrest Protestors
May 1, 2024
Take Action Now “The U.S. government and institutions like Columbia are showing that they would rather brutalize students than divest from…
They Arrested Us. I Hope It Brings An End To Nuclear Weapons.
May 1, 2024
Take Action Now About 50 people protested April 15 outside the Kansas City National Security Campus, a plant run by Honeywell, calling for an end to…