A coalition of civil rights groups is taking Florida state officials to court over the newly passed congressional map.
The group filed a lawsuit Friday asking a state court in Leon County to block the map and order the drawing of a new one, arguing it violated the Fair Districts Amendment in the state Constitution and illegally gerrymanders in a way that diminishes the power of black voters.
The map has yet to go into effect, but it cleared both chambers of the Florida Legislature and has been backed by DeSantis, who signed it into law Friday afternoon. Civil rights groups such as the League of Women Voters of Florida, Black Voters Matter, Florida Rising, and Equal Ground Florida, as well as several voters, joined the lawsuit.
"Both Governor DeSantis and the Legislature well knew that dismantling CD-5 would diminish the voting power of Black residents within the district and violate the plain command of the Florida Constitution. From the beginning, Governor DeSantis publicly stated that he would not accept any congressional plan that contained a configuration of CD-5 that protected Black voters from diminishment," the lawsuit said."Governor DeSantis was tireless in his efforts.
To many outside observers, DeSantis's veto appeared motivated by a desire to implement an even more GOP-friendly map that the legislature sent him. Ultimately, the legislature caved and announced it would pursue a map that he would support, hoping it could also withstand legal muster. DeSantis and the legislature had been at odds for months over how aggressive they should be on redistricting.
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