Legal efforts to stop the controversial redistricting plan failed after Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes ruled the map should remain active ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Critics argue the new district lines could give Republicans four additional congressional seats in Florida while violating the state’s anti-gerrymandering protections.
According to POLITICO, Hawkes said changing the map now could create confusion because Florida’s August primary is only months away. The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the map last month after it was proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.
Voting and civil rights groups sued over the map, arguing it violated anti-gerrymandering standards approved by Florida voters in 2010. During court proceedings, attorneys challenging the map pointed to what they described as a “staggering” amount of evidence showing partisan intent, including testimony that a top DeSantis aide relied on partisan data while drawing the districts.
Hawkes said there was “insufficient evidence of impermissible intent” at this stage of the case. The judge also noted the ruling does not resolve the broader constitutional fight over Florida’s Fair Districts amendments.
DeSantis celebrated the ruling online by posting the new map alongside the phrase “Let’s Roll.” Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Darren Soto accused the court of ignoring the Florida Constitution and said DeSantis had previously “bragged about a partisan map.”
Common Cause Florida Executive Director Amy Keith said her organization would “exhaust all legal options” to stop the map from remaining in place for the rest of the decade. Hawkes was originally appointed to the bench by DeSantis.
Voters Accuse Court of Ignoring Constitution
The judge’s connection to DeSantis quickly became a major focus online as critics questioned the fairness of the ruling.
Some commenters accused the court of abandoning constitutional protections entirely, with one person calling the decision “straight outta the MAGA playbook.” Another user argued officials were willing to “just write your own rules!”
“It’s so absurd that politicians get to pick their voters in this country,” one commenter wrote. Others questioned whether constitutional protections against partisan gerrymandering still mattered at all.
Several people also mocked the judge’s argument that it was too late to change the map before the elections. “Ah too soon to change it now??? Like they just [expletive] did?” one user asked.
Others focused directly on the political implications of the ruling, arguing that the only remaining option is overwhelming voter turnout to counter the newly approved district lines.
With the election calendar moving forward, the legal battle over Florida’s congressional map is now shifting from the courtroom to voters preparing for the 2026 midterms.
