Florida dives into the redistricting arms race despite political and legal hurdles

Florida is entering the national redistricting arms race, with a legislative hearing Thursday set to kick off yet another contentious map-drawing fight

Florida is entering the national redistricting arms race, with a legislative hearing Thursday set to kick off yet another contentious map-drawing fight.

Republicans are hoping Florida, where they have full control of state government and already represent 20 of 28 congressional districts, will be fertile ground for further shoring up the party’s narrow House majority ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

But it won’t be easy, legally or politically.

From a legal standpoint, voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2010 that’s meant to block partisan gerrymandering. The state Supreme Court weakened the amendment’s ban on racial gerrymandering, but the prohibition of partisan gerrymandering remains intact.

“No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent,” the Florida Constitution reads.