NEW POLL: REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION

Florida lawmakers are set to return to Tallahassee for a special session on congressional redistricting from April 20–24. During this time they are expected to take on an unprecedented mid-decade effort to redraw maps outside of the normal redistricting cycle. Redistricting is typically done once every ten years following the census. Attempting to revisit maps in the middle of the decade raises serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and whether this process is being driven by politics rather than the needs of the people.

This effort comes amid growing national pressure to reshape congressional maps for political advantage. Here in Florida, that could mean further weakening the voting power of Black communities and other historically marginalized groups.

This is a continuation of what we saw in 2022, when Governor DeSantis and legislative leaders pushed through their preferred congressional map, and the courts ultimately sided with them, despite litigation filed by Equal Ground and other partners challenging the map for diminishing Black representation. At the time, Florida’s congressional delegation was nearly evenly split, with Republicans holding 14 seats and Democrats holding 13. Following redistricting and with the addition of a new seat due to population growth, the balance shifted dramatically. Florida now has 28 congressional seats, with Republicans holding 20 and Democrats holding 8.

Now, just four years later, with no new census data or court mandate, the state is attempting to redraw those same maps. This comes despite the Florida Constitution’s Fair Districts Amendments, which prohibit drawing maps for partisan advantage. 

A new survey from Emerson College Polling, conducted March 29–31, 2026, shows that a majority of likely Florida voters believe mid-decade redistricting is a bad idea. Most respondents said congressional maps should only be redrawn after the census, not in the middle of the decade, reinforcing concerns that the current effort is unnecessary.

The poll also indicates that many voters view the push for redistricting as politically motivated rather than driven by population changes or community needs. While opposition is strongest among Democrats and independent voters, the survey also shows skepticism among some Republican voters.

Overall, the findings highlight growing concern across the state and reinforce what many advocates have been saying: Floridians want a fair, transparent process that prioritizes communities, not politics. Click HERE to read the poll.