In late May, RedState reported on a ruling that was handed down in consolidated lawsuits filed by leftist groups looking to block Florida's new congressional map from taking effect ahead of the 2026 midterms.
In that ruling, Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes denied the plaintiffs' temporary injunction request. Hawkes noted in part that ruling against the state at this late date was not a good idea, seeing as how Florida's primary is on August 18th. The judge also had concerns about the state's current 20th Congressional District in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais ruling.
"Plaintiffs’ evidence focuses on challenging the constitutionality of the 2026 map, but does not sufficiently challenge the political branches’ finding that CD-20 in the 2022 map was drawn with impermissible racial intent," the judge wrote, while adding that "Plaintiffs’ evidence at this stage is insufficient to support the permissibility of this Court forcing the 2022 map onto the electorate in contravention of the duly enacted 2026 map."
SEE ALSO: Florida's New Congressional Map One Step Closer to Reality After Circuit Court Judge's Ruling
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Lawyers for the plaintiffs, which include Common Cause and Equal Ground Education Fund, vowed to take their case to the Florida Supreme Court, which they in fact did. And on Tuesday, the court announced its decision:
The new congressional district map will remain in effect for the midterm elections, after the Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a push to block the new configuration.
In a 6-1 ruling, the court determined the First District Court of Appeal should consider the merits of the case before it weighs in on the matter. Equal Ground Education Fund and two other voting rights groups brought the case alleging the new districts were drawn to favor the Republican Party, a violation of the state's anti-gerrymandering law, but the First DCA didn't grant a temporary injunction while the underlying case is pending.
"At this time, we do not have jurisdiction over that matter, and we do not simply assume that the First District's decision will provide an appropriate basis for this Court's review," the court ruling states.
[...]
Although the underlying case will still progress through the court process, the maps will remain in place.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), of course, took a victory lap on X:
The Florida Supreme Court has REJECTED the challenge to the state’s redistricting plan and new map.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) June 10, 2026
This assures that the recently enacted map will be in place for the 2026 election.
Republicans currently hold 20 of Florida's 28 congressional seats. The new map could potentially net them another four House seats in the upcoming midterm elections.
The map has already caused big problems between longtime Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and the black Democrats running for the open seat in the more Democrat-friendly, majority minority District 20, because Wasserman Schultz has now decided to run for that seat, too, as RedState previously reported.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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