The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature on Monday swiftly approved new maps that will alter several of the state’s congressional districts after a judge ruled the current districts were illegally drawn to benefit the GOP.
The changes would reshape the boundaries of seven of the state’s 27 congressional districts, but it’s not certain if the revised map will result in a change the makeup of Florida’s congressional delegation. Republicans currently hold a 17-10 edge even though President Barack Obama twice carried the state.
The vote was largely along partisan lines as Democrats complained that the new map still doesn’t reflect that Florida is a battleground state with a divided electorate. The Senate passed the measure 25-12 with the House following by a 71-38 vote.
“What we’ve done is really just window dressing,” said Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth.