Florida Supreme Court rejects emergency petition to stop DeSantis’ redistricted congressional map

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently redistricted congressional map that could net Republicans up to four additional seats this fall will remain in place after the Florida Supreme Court rejected an emergency petition to stop the map from taking effect on Wednesday.

The Equal Ground Education Fund had filed the petition, asking the high court to overturn the First District Court of Appeal’s decision to reject a temporary injunction. The ruling does not end the legal battle, with the underlying challenge still intact.

The Elias Law Group, on behalf of Equal Ground, originally filed the lawsuit on May 4 on behalf of 18 individual plaintiffs who live throughout the state. That was the day DeSantis signed the GOP-controlled Legislature’s map into law.

The suit contends the new map violates Florida’s 2010 Fair Districts Amendments, which prohibits drawing congressional (and state legislative) districts that favor incumbents or a political party.

Genesis Robinson, executive director of Equal Ground, issued a blistering statement.

“Let’s be clear, the Florida Supreme Court’s failure to stop this brazen partisan power grab is not only an assault on democracy, but an abdication of its duty to the people of Florida,” he said. “Courts are meant to serve as a check on government overreach and a safeguard against constitutional violations, but, once again, when Floridians needed that protection most, the Court declined to intervene.”

“The Florida Supreme Court just stopped Marc Elias’ attempted takeover of Florida’s congressional map and denied his request to hear the case. COMPLETE AND TOTAL VICTORY,” wrote Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in a social media post.

Elias is one of the country’s most prominent election attorneys working for Democrats nationwide. The Elias Law Group is litigating the case on behalf of Equal Ground.

Florida Republicans control 20 of the state’s 28 congressional seats. The deadline for candidates to qualify to run for Congress in Florida is Friday at noon.