Eighteen voters in Florida, where congressional maps have been redrawn by the governor and approved for implementation, have asked for Judge Lee Marsh to be disqualified from proceedings in their lawsuit against the state.
Citing Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.330(e), plaintiffs say the “rule provides for the disqualification of a judge when ‘the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.’”
Second-term Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed his redrawn congressional map into law. Legislative approval in a special session was rendered last week and as expected, multiple lawsuits followed immediately.
A renowned counsel in such litigations, Elias Law Group of Washington, represents the 18 voters and Equal Ground Education Fund. Those plaintiffs named Secretary of State Cord Byrd in his official capacity, and the state Senate and House of Representatives as defendants in Monday’s filing. Relief is sought in the form of stopping implementation of the new congressional maps.
“Plaintiffs assert,” the Elias Group said in a release, “that the new map violates the state constitution’s explicit ban on partisan gerrymandering and non-compactness, and the state constitution’s requirement to use political and geographic boundaries to draw new districts.”
The complaint says DeSantis’ map “cracks the Democratic-leaning cities” to favor the Grand Old Party.
Florida’s representation is 20 Republicans, seven Democrats and one vacancy from the resignation of former Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. The new map is forecast to bring an end for Democratic U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor in the Tampa area and Maxwell Frost in Central Florida.
Five districts represented by Democrats are expected to leave just three. They include areas represented by Reps. Jared Moskowitz, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lois Frankel, Frederica Wilson and Cherfilus-McCormick.
DeSantis said the ruling announced April 29 from the nation’s high court in a Louisiana redistricting case vindicated the need for new maps and compelled the state to act.
In Louisiana v. Callais, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled authority to alter districts that would guarantee the race – any race – of an elected representative is not given through the Constitution or Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. It was in keeping with several other opinions, including a 2007 Seattle voluntary school integration case for which Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “The way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”
Two other significant lawsuits are pending. One is attached to Common Cause, the League of Women Voters of Florida, and the League of United Latin American Citizens; the second is anchored by the Campaign Legal Center and the UCLA Voting Rights Project.
The primaries in Florida are scheduled Aug. 18. The second qualifying period, inclusive of U.S. House of Representative candidates, is scheduled June 8-12, according to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections.
The U.S. House was divided 220 Republicans, 215 Democrats following the 2024 election cycle. Today, it’s 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, one independent formerly Republican, and five vacancies.
New maps are in play for the 2026 elections in California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. Litigation has also led to changes in Utah.
Florida is somewhat parallel to Virginia, Georgia and New York as states involved in litigation.
A new map is expected in Louisiana, and discussion for new maps as of Thursday morning was ongoing in South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.
Maryland’s bid for new congressional maps died in April without making it out of a Legislature with majority Democrats in each chamber.
