Florida’s ugly, enduring history of racial gerrymandering

Join us to stop gerrymanders in Florida and everywhere that democracy is under threat

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Pamela,

We often call Florida one of the most egregiously gerrymandered states in the country (and that's before they try to pass a new, skewed map this spring). But it didn't get that dubious distinction by accident. More than a century of partisan scheming, combined with racial gerrymandering, has led us to this moment. 

Before we dive into Florida's history of voter suppression, consider making a donation to support our urgent work fighting for fair maps in the Sunshine State and across the country.

Anti-democracy forces in Florida have been gaming the system to disadvantage Black voters nearly since the state came into existence. Take a look at this timeline:

Flash forward to the 2020s: Even today, Florida has only sent a total of 12 Black representatives to Congress. And racial gerrymandering continues unabated: After the 2020 Census, Florida enacted an egregious redistricting plan that deliberately took voting power away from Black communities. In the first election held on the new maps, Rep. Al Lawson, a Black representative from the Jacksonville area, lost his seat after it was substantially redrawn.

Now, in 2026, they're doubling down: In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a special session of the Florida Legislature to enact a mid-decade redraw, over the strong opposition of his constituents. Any redraw would be entirely unnecessary. And we will be watching closely, given what has happened in Florida, for its effects on the voting power of communities of color across the state.

Every day, battles are being fought that could determine whether all Floridians truly have fair representation in their state and federal government. And every day, we're working to support these fights by mobilizing grassroots activists on the ground in Florida and across the nation. 

Donate today: Every dollar helps ensure we have the resources to safeguard voting rights for all Americans nationwide.

— Redistricting Action HQ Team

P.S. Floridians are ready to fight back — in fact, a group of voters with the backing of our affiliate, the National Redistricting Foundation, just announced they're taking Gov. DeSantis to court for attempting a redraw this year. We'll keep you posted on the latest.

 

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