Just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it had taken a hatchet to the Voting Rights Act last week, Florida Republicans were already lining up the next domino. And by the afternoon, they knocked it down. Tallahassee didn’t waste a minute to try to gain a GOP advantage in a threatened blue wave.
In a 21–17 vote, lawmakers approved a brand-new congressional map that just so happens to give the GOP a very convenient boost heading into November. And by “boost,” Ladra means up to four extra seats in Congress. Qué casualidad.
The map now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been telegraphing this move for months — practically predicting the court ruling like he had a crystal ball (or at least a very good legal team). Within hours of the decision, DeSantis was already on X declaring that Florida’s own anti-gerrymandering protections were basically toast.
You remember those, right? The 2010 constitutional amendment voters passed by 70% to stop exactly this kind of political line-drawing. The one that says you can’t dilute minority voting power or rig districts for partisan gain. Yeah, that one.
According to the governor’s own numbers, Florida currently has 28 congressional districts, with 20 leaning Republican. Under the new map? That jumps to 24. Not subtle.
Read related: Florida House redistricting committee muzzles the public — once again
Among the seats affected are those of outspoken Democrat Congress Members Jared Moskowitz and 
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who used to be the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Ladra doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that they are suddenly in more Republican district. Wasserman Schultz doesn’t know if she will run in District 20 or 25 and we may not find out until June 12, which is the deadline to qualify.
Democrats aren’t even pretending this is about anything other than power. And it’s not just a Florida story. It’s part of a full-blown, mid-decade redistricting arms race that Trump kicked off by urging Republican states to redraw maps early. Texas did it. California clapped back. Virginia jumped in. And now Florida may have just tipped the scales.
The scoreboard, more or less? Republicans could net around 13 seats nationwide from these redraws. Democrats, about 10. And with control of Congress hanging by a thread, those margins matter.
Read related: Democrat leaders waste no time calling Eileen Higgins victory a Miami ‘reset’
Of course, Democrats say they’re heading straight to court. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried is already promising lawsuits, calling the whole thing a collapse of democracy in real time because it is a 
violation of the Florida constitution. Voters in 2010 passed the Fair District act. “[It] mandates that the Florida Legislature and the governor cannot draw maps on partisan lines,” Fried told MSNOW in an interview about the “aggressive gerrymandering.”
She, too, doesn’t think it’s a coincidence.
“We have been over performing the nation average by 17 points, flipping 29 seats in 2025 and 2026,” Fried said, talking about everything from local to special state elections, mentioning the Palm Beach election, Escambia County going blue for the first time in more than 30 years and the city of Miami, where a Democrat was elected, even though its “technically” (wink, wink) a nonpartisan race.
“We were already positioned to not only to return all eight of our embers of the Democratic delegation but also flipping a tremendous amounts of seats.”
Read related: Is Maria Elvira Salazar finally getting a real challenger in Eliott Rodriguez?
She pointed out how DeSantis went on Fox News before the vote with the maps drawn and talked about registration numbers. “This is a direct violation of the Florida constitution. There will be lawsuits filed,” Fried said.
But here’s the catch — even if the courts take it up, the calendar may do Republicans a favor. With primaries in August, election law experts say judges are often reluctant to blow up maps too close to an 
election. Ballots need printing. Candidates need qualifying. Chaos is frowned upon.
That means this map could very well be locked in for 2026, legal fight or not.
And just to keep things interesting, Democrats argue the map might not be the slam dunk Republicans think. By reshuffling districts so aggressively, some safe GOP seats could suddenly get, well, competitive. Especially if recent special election trends hold.
Still, let’s not kid ourselves. This was a speed run.
A Supreme Court ruling in the morning. A congressional map by the afternoon. And the guv’s signature in less than a week.
In Florida, the lines aren’t just being drawn. They’re being drawn fast.
This kind of independent, government watchdog reporting is crucial to transparency and democracy. And more so every day. Help shine a light on the darker corners of our community with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.
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This is the only way they can hold on to power. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
”José, don’t be fooled by the fake news and you’ll be a happier person.”
I do not watch Fox .
From what I see DeSantis is White privilege / entitlement and others get to the back of the bus and when I say White I include Miami’s Cuban community who in my opinion have more racist percentage wise then Anglo’s.
Only good about Trump is that he is still better then DeSantis .
I do think the Republican candidate as of now will be Rubio because Vance was never truly MAGA ( much to his credit ) while Rubio will sell his soul .
However I doubt Rubio will carry as many Hispanics ( other then Cubans ) like Trump did and certainly not nearly as many of Black male voters .
Democrats like to say that Harris lost because she is a woman of color but nothing could be further from reality , she lost because the Biden / Harris border was a free for all .
Democrats simply REFUSE to see that most of actual voters want border ” sealed” and the country does not want to go back to Biden / Harris disaster free for all borders so chances are it is going to be Newsom who is a disaster but I am not sure that Trump will not tire of Rubio and Rubio will last .
Vance I do not dislike and not a liar like Rubio who lied about his parents fleeing Castro because when the calle ocho conman was caught he admitted they fled Batista
The DeSantis site you linked I read but I do not believe anything he says again he is like María Elvira Salazar however the other site was good .
MAGA is a sales pitch a gimmick as simply a slogan .
Though she is insane as far as Jewish lasers starting fires, etc I do agree with Trump is not USA first .
” “If I am cast aside by MAGA Inc. and replaced by Neocons, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Military Industrial War Complex, foreign leaders, and the elite donor class that can’t even relate to real Americans, then many common Americans have been cast aside and replaced as well.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene
José, don’t be fooled by the fake news and you’ll be a happier person. I know how overwhelmingly disappointing it is to be lied to repeatedly by the mainstream media night after night, I understand believe me. Thank you for the old link which clarifies “No one should be surprised that President Joe Biden is shortchanging Florida,” Rubio said.
Here’s the truth, Desantis has done well by the Everglades, a place I used to visit very often and even volunteered there many a time. I’ll see you your link (old news) and raise you another with twice as much funding, think $2 billion by Trump and $1.5 billion by the state as it’s a 50/50 funding deal despite the federal government missing promised payments in the past…I’m not sure Biden even funded what he promised…
https://www.evergladesfoundation.org/post/breaking-news-major-funding-secured-to-accelerate-eaa-reservoir
https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2024/governor-ron-desantis-announces-15-billion-everglades-restoration-and-water-quality
Our country is doing much better than the left would have you believe, crime truly is down since Trump’s reelection, not like the lies the democrats and fake news were feeding us all during Biden catastrophe, border is secure, but sadly our deficit is the highest ever. We’re also finally fighting taxpayer fraud in places like Minnesota, NY and yes, California which is even trying to make it illegal to report fraud, can you believe it, Newsom is a conman. God bless you have a good night and keep your spirits UP! We will win and only make it better, Rubio in 2028…? MAGA takes all of us.
” I’m certain you know MAGA stands for making America great again ”
An empty sales pitch and even most Independents who fell for it have walked away .
Trump has ” sealed ” border which give him credit for but a disaster every other way and DeSantis on the other hand has not done a thing because Glades restoration came from Biden .
DeSantis is another Elvira Salazar who takes credit for what they did not have a thing to do with , typical MAGA .
Why would I consider Canada , etc when a USA Citizen and Veteran , simply not MAGA cult .
I stand by DeSantis is just about hate loved by Khristian KKonservatives.
”In an unprecedented move, the Biden Administration steered nearly $1.1 billion into U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Everglades restoration projects recently — the lion’s share itemized in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”
”It’s the largest federal investment in restoring the famed “River of Grass” and a massive investment in climate resiliency and the long-term viability of the state economy.”
https://www.keysnews.com/news/local/feds-commit-1-1b-to-glades-restoration/article_89e2012e-8078-11ec-bd06-43326c979f60.html
I knew it Joseito! “ I feel the same about MAGA especially DeSantis who only offers hate , has not done a thing for Florida unless carrying a gun is a big issue for someone .” I’m certain you know MAGA stands for making America great again and you just admitted you hate it…? If strong borders and keeping America America bothers you so much then why are you still here and not with Rosie odonell over in Ireland oh con Clooney in France? Or in Canada con Trudeau que pienso sale con Katy Perry…? Venezuela dicen es libre… Ronnie has done great things for the Everglades, balanced the budget, restored law and order and supports law enforcement and is a big proponent of keeping Florida free of the chaos overwhelming ny, California, Minnesota, tú sabes. Pero he’s not done much for the 2nd amendment unfortunately as that poor lost speaker and the Florida congregation are anti second, any progress on this front has been hard fought legally in front of the supreme courts and thankfully the constitution persevered. You know the constitution right? It’s not a long document and quite easy to read, te li recomiendo, léelo porfa
MAGA Carlos Gimenez will be a loud cheerleader for this DeSantis Scam. Gimenez loves
kissing the butt of Trump and his cronies. Does the public know Carlos Gimenez does not live in his District?
” Thank God, everyone by now knows just how much the leftists hate America”
I feel the same about MAGA especially DeSantis who only offers hate , has not done a thing for Florida unless carrying a gun is a big issue for someone .
Hating America are things like removing slavery or watering it down from school curriculum.
IMO and base this on countless of all ages , races I know enough to discuses politics with MOST Democrats in Florida not just Miami do not bother voting and most will NEVER even register .
Thank God, everyone by now knows just how much the leftists hate America. Where are all those “geniuses” that voted for that marionette puppet Kamala whom doesn’t even know where she’s standing or Walz whom oversaw billions in fraud in Minnesota and now wants to take credit for a return to accountability…lets be real they would have destroyed America. Funding Somali criminals and a country without borders nor law and order, go figure… Clowns, they belong in JAIL with Rivera.
Gerrymandering .. why is this still legal today?!!! This is just communist crapola on which ever side does the gerrymandering. There is no easy answer … but maybe … state’s voting districts should be equally divided based on 50/50 voter registration of Dem/Rep … Then you let the independents decide the outcome. Dark pac money as well as corporate donations to campaigns should be ILLEGAL .. Citizens United .. ILLEGAL!!
MAGA leaders like Trump, DeSantis, Rick Scott hate Cubans and Haitians… most of all they love power. Power do start stupid wars that kill civilians. Wars that help defense contractors make more money. Will the Democrats step up to fight this?