Florida Lawmakers Pass Unconstitutional Congressional Map In Brazen Violation Of Florida’s Fair Districts Amendments And Their Own Oath Of Office

TALLAHASSEE, FL – In a 21-to-17 vote, Florida's Republican-led Senate, and an 83-28 vote, Florida’s Republican-led House, have approved a new congressional map that flagrantly violates the Florida Constitution — and the oath every legislator swore to uphold. The ACLU of Florida is urging Floridians to hold their elected officials accountable for violating their oath of office and failing to uphold Florida’s Constitution.

Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida, shared the following statement:

"Every Florida elected official swears an oath to support, protect, and defend the Constitution. Today, that oath was broken.

 

“The Fair Districts Amendments — passed by Florida voters in 2010 — are clear: no district shall be drawn to favor or disfavor a political party. Yet Governor DeSantis' own office released a color-coded map showing that their redistricting shifts the state from 20 to 24 Republican-leaning districts. The mapmaker admitted partisan data was used. Even the Governor's own attorney could not confirm the map is constitutional.

 

“No Governor, no Legislature, and no political party is above the Florida Constitution. When our lawmakers decide that our laws don't apply to them, that is not governance — that is corruption. Sixty-three percent of Floridians voted in favor of Florida’s Fair Districts Amendments, and they’ve been enshrined in Florida’s Constitution for well over a decade.

 

"Every Florida legislator took an oath to defend the Constitution — not to dismantle it for partisan gain. The right of Black and Brown Floridians to equal representation was not given to us; it was fought for, bled for, and enshrined in our constitution, and we will not allow it to be erased by a map drawn in a back room to serve a political party. This map is unconstitutional, and the people of Florida will not be silent and complicit as those in power seek to rig our elections in real time.

 

“We are asking every Floridian: How did your legislator vote?”