Florida lawmakers have passed a revised congressional map that is expected to give Republicans a significant advantage, potentially adding four seats to their total in the U.S. House ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The plan now heads to the desk of Ron DeSantis for approval, positioning it as a political win for President Donald Trump, who resides in Florida, as Republicans seek to maintain control of Congress.

The legislative action came shortly after the Supreme Court of the United States issued a 6-3 ruling that reduced the strength of the Voting Rights Act. DeSantis pointed to that decision as grounds for revisiting and altering the state’s congressional districts mid-decade.

DeSantis welcomed the ruling, stating it “invalidates” the provisions of the Florida Constitution “requiring the use of race in redistricting.”

The measure passed strictly along party lines, with Republicans supporting the new map and Democrats opposing it.

At present, Florida’s congressional delegation includes 20 Republican-held seats and seven held by Democrats, along with one vacant seat that leans Democratic. Under the newly approved plan, Republicans could gain a total of 24 favorable districts.

The redrawn map would remove four seats currently held by Democrats, including one each in the Tampa and Orlando regions and two in the Fort Lauderdale area.

Legal challenges are expected, and the case could serve as an early test of how courts apply the Supreme Court’s recent decision.

Florida’s move is part of a broader national struggle over redistricting, as both parties work to shape congressional boundaries to their advantage.

Republicans in states like Florida and Texas are attempting to offset Democratic-led efforts in states such as Virginia and California, where new maps are likely to benefit Democrats.

Democrats would need to gain just three additional seats in November to take control of the House, increasing the stakes for both sides as they pursue favorable district lines.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on Wednesday also gave Republicans momentum by striking down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana and limiting the reach of the Voting Rights Act, opening the door for map changes in several Southern states.

However, Florida may be one of the few Southern states able to implement new district maps in time for this election cycle. In states like South Carolina and Mississippi, filing deadlines have already passed, and preparations for primary elections are already underway.

{Matzav.com}