Florida Legislature
Florida's state legislature, convened in a special session in April 2026 to redraw congressional maps.
Last refreshed: 12 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Will Florida's legislature pass the DeSantis redistricting maps before legal challenges can stop them?
Latest on Florida Legislature
- Why is Florida redrawing its congressional map in 2026?
- Governor DeSantis called a special session to target 3-5 additional Republican seats. The session was timed to await a Supreme Court ruling that could weaken the Voting Rights Act.Source: Event: DeSantis calls special session
Background
The Florida Legislature is the state's bicameral lawmaking body, comprising the House of Representatives (120 members) and the Senate (40 members), both with Republican supermajorities. Governor DeSantis called a special redistricting session from 20 to 24 April 2026, directing the legislature to redraw congressional districts in a process timed deliberately to coincide with the expected Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais.
The legislature's role in the process is formally decisive — it must pass the new maps — but in practice the 2026 special session was driven by the governor's strategic priorities rather than legislative initiative. The special session dates also coincided with the candidate filing deadline, creating a compressed timeline that prevents legal challenges from being fully litigated before the November 2026 election.
