Candidates, election officials in limbo as Florida considers new map

Potential changes to Florida’s congressional lines — ones that could ultimately get tossed out or blocked — are leaving incumbents and candidates in limbo as lawmakers get ready to weigh in on an anticipated new House map.

Lawmakers in the Sunshine State are set to convene on Tuesday for a special session over several priorities, including redistricting, as Florida represents the last opportunity for Republicans to draw new congressional districts ahead of November.

Yet, proposed lines have yet to be made public, and there’s uncertainty over whether a new map could even withstand a legal challenge given the state constitution’s clear anti-gerrymandering language.

The confusion over the state’s map means candidates may be forced to introduce themselves to new voters late in the cycle while scrambling to meet registration deadlines less than two months out from the June 12 filing deadline.

“For candidates, particularly incumbents running in competitive districts, this is just extremely unsettling,” explained former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), who represented a competitive South Florida seat. 

Republican incumbents “know they’re going to face headwinds in November, and a lot of them have invested a lot of time and resources into their current constituents, their existing constituents,” Curbelo said. “So, this uncertainty is just very taxing and unnerving, particularly in a challenging political climate.”

Florida lawmakers are meeting this week as Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) considers new congressional lines ahead of November. The Florida governor has said that a new map is warranted, primarily for two reasons: For one, he’s argued that the state’s population has grown substantially since 2020, meaning the state should be considering a new apportionment of the districts.

He’s also said that a pending decision from the Supreme Court over the fate of the Voting Rights Act, and whether race can be considered when drawing districts, is expected to come soon.

During a rare rehearing of the case in October, the high court appeared inclined to limit race as a factor in redistricting. DeSantis has said the state will be required to act........

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