We’re in the final stretch of President Donald Trump’s redistricting war — for this election cycle. The last rulings are coming in, and they’re bleak.
This week, the Florida Supreme Court allowed the state to use a GOP-backed congressional map that blatantly violates a voter-approved ban on partisan gerrymanders. And you may not see this key fact reported elsewhere: The only judge to dissent was the sole justice who was not appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Meanwhile, a Missouri judge postponed proceedings in a court case challenging the state’s new pro-GOP gerrymander, de facto helping Republicans run out the clock on their opponents. Further misery ahead: Georgia begins redistricting next week.
I wish we had better news for you — but maybe an aptly-named cocktail recipe at the bottom of this newsletter will help.
As always, thanks for reading.
Jen Rice, Reporter
Florida Supreme Court greenlights GOP gerrymander that violates state ban
The Florida Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for Republicans to use DeSantis’ gerrymandered congressional map in 2026, despite the state’s voter-approved ban on partisan gerrymandering.
The only judge to dissent from the order was the sole state Supreme Court justice who was not appointed by DeSantis. The majority declined to weigh in on the map itself — a decision that, in effect, will allow it to be used during this year’s midterms. Justice Jorge Labarga, the lone dissenting judge, rebuked the court, insisting it should have intervened as it did in past elections.
DeSantis-appointed judges ruling for DeSantis might not be that surprising, but it’s an astonishing moment for democracy when a state Supreme Court completely disregards the law.
All in all, a brutal ending to what we have termed the Virginia vs. Florida redistricting showdown. As you likely remember, the Virginia Supreme Court overruled the will of voters and invalidated the results of a special election in which Virginians approved a new map backed by Democrats. The Florida Supreme Court? It just gave the governor what he wanted.
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With latest delay, Missouri court lets GOP run out clock on redistricting fight
A Missouri state judge handed Republicans a big win this week: yet another delay in a months-long battle over a partisan gerrymander that the GOP passed last year. The move makes it very likely that the GOP will defeat opponents of the new map by simply running out the clock.
The judge’s decision comes as county clerks say they urgently need a straight answer on which map is in effect for the upcoming Aug. 4 primary election — not another ambiguous signal from Missouri courts.
Georgia redistricting special session starts next week
In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which gutted the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and made gerrymandering even easier, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has called a redistricting special session starting Wednesday.
At a press briefing Thursday, voting advocates with Fair Fight said Georgia will be the first state post-Callais to redraw more than just its congressional districts. Kemp’s proclamation calls for redistricting the maps for the state senate, state house and “any other state office elected by district.” (For the nerds: Alabama did change its state senate map this summer, too. But it’s using a map previously found to be discriminatory, whereas Georgia will be drawing a new one.)
One small silver lining in Georgia: The new maps won’t go into effect for this year’s midterms.
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We’re starting to have a clear final picture of how President Donald Trump’s redistricting war and the Callais ruling have changed the maps, at least for this year’s midterms. Republicans have potentially gained up to 14 seats this year — five in Texas, four in Florida and one each in Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. Democrats have potentially gained up to six seats — five in California and one in Utah.
Odds and ends
The Tennessee legislature appears to be taking steps to redraw its state legislative maps before the next election cycle.
Texas Republicans will have a tough time winning all five districts they gerrymandered last year. But they’re also struggling to hold onto another district where they weren’t expecting a fight.
What we’re doing
If you’ve made it to the end of the newsletter this week, you might need a drink (like we do). We suggest an aptly named cocktail known as a Painkiller.
2 ounces rum
4 ounces pineapple juice
1 ounce orange juice
1 ounce cream of coconut
As always, drink responsibly.
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