Judge announces he’ll block DeSantis’ Florida redistricting plan because it’s unconstitutional
2 years, 7 months ago

Judge announces he’ll block DeSantis’ Florida redistricting plan because it’s unconstitutional

LA Times  

A congressional map approved by Florida Republican Gov. “The judge recognizes that this map is unlawful and diminishes African Americans’ ability to elect representatives of their choice,” Lawson said in a statement emailed to news outlets. “As Judge Smith implied, these complex constitutional matters of law were always going to be decided at the appellate level,” DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske said in an email. “We will undoubtedly be appealing his ruling and are confident the constitutional map enacted by the Florida legislature and signed into law passes legal muster.” Smith said that while the DeSantis map is more compact, the issue of allowing Black voters to choose their representatives is more important. “The district that has since been enacted and signed into law by the governor does disperse 367,000 African American votes between four different districts,” Smith said in a video call with both sides.

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History of this topic

Fight to restore Black voters’ strength could dismantle Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment
3 months, 1 week ago

Fight to restore Black voters’ strength could dismantle Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A coalition of voting rights groups is pointing to a voter-approved amendment to argue Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the state constitution when he dismantled a Black congressional district, but if they lose the case, the Fair Districts Amendment itself could also be tossed out. “Will the whole FDA have to go?” In 2010, Florida voters …

The Supreme Court is asked to pause a ruling against Louisiana's congressional map
7 months, 3 weeks ago

The Supreme Court is asked to pause a ruling against Louisiana's congressional map

NPR  

The Supreme Court is asked to pause a ruling against Louisiana's congressional map Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerald Herbert/AP Gerald Herbert/AP The state of Louisiana and a group of Black Louisiana voters have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to put a hold on a lower court order that is blocking Louisiana from using the state's new congressional map for …

Plaintiffs in a Georgia redistricting case are asking a judge to reject new Republican-proposed maps
1 year ago

Plaintiffs in a Georgia redistricting case are asking a judge to reject new Republican-proposed maps

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — The people who sued to overturn Georgia’s congressional and state legislative districts on Tuesday attacked plans that Republican state lawmakers claim cure illegal dilution of Black votes while preserving GOP power, calling them a “mockery” of federal law and a “total failure of compliance.” The three sets of plaintiffs in the case filed briefs with the federal judge …

Appeals court takes DeSantis’ side in challenge to a map that helped unseat a Black congressman
1 year ago

Appeals court takes DeSantis’ side in challenge to a map that helped unseat a Black congressman

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Legislature didn’t violate the state constitution when it approved congressional maps pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that helped the GOP replace a Black Democratic representative with a white conservative, an appeals court ruled Friday. The 1st District Court of Appeal reversed a lower court’s ruling that the map that rewrote U.S. Rep. Alan Lawson’s …

The Supreme Court refuses to speed the drawing of a new congressional map in Louisiana
1 year, 2 months ago

The Supreme Court refuses to speed the drawing of a new congressional map in Louisiana

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an emergency appeal from Black voters in Louisiana to speed the process of drawing new congressional districts in the state. The appeals court said U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick was moving too fast and must give the state more time to consider a new map. Civil rights groups had hoped a new …

DeSantis purposely dismantled a Black congressional district, attorney says as trial over map begins
1 year, 2 months ago

DeSantis purposely dismantled a Black congressional district, attorney says as trial over map begins

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On the same day Alabama Black voters scored a victory in the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal trial opened in Florida in which lawyers say Republican Gov. “He pressed his argument by sound bite bullying.” The result was a map that helped Republicans earn a majority in the House and left Black voters in north Florida with …

Fla. Gov. DeSantis' redistricting plan is being challenged in federal court
1 year, 2 months ago

Fla. Gov. DeSantis' redistricting plan is being challenged in federal court

NPR  

DeSantis' redistricting plan is being challenged in federal court MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is in California, where he is expected to take part in another Republican presidential debate tomorrow. DeSantis surprised Republican lawmakers last year by insisting on a map that eliminated a voting district in North Florida with a sizable Black population. DeSantis's map eliminated a …

DeSantis' redistricting map in Florida is unconstitutional and must be redrawn, judge says
1 year, 3 months ago

DeSantis' redistricting map in Florida is unconstitutional and must be redrawn, judge says

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ron DeSantis violates the state constitution and is …

DeSantis’ redistricting map in Florida is unconstitutional and must be redrawn, judge says
1 year, 3 months ago

DeSantis’ redistricting map in Florida is unconstitutional and must be redrawn, judge says

Associated Press  

A Florida redistricting plan pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis violates the state constitution and is prohibited from being used for any future U.S. congressional elections since it diminishes the ability of Black voters in north Florida to pick a representative of their choice, a state judge ruled Saturday. Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh sent the plan back to the …

Deal over Florida’s redistricting plan could lead to restoration of Black-dominant district
1 year, 4 months ago

Deal over Florida’s redistricting plan could lead to restoration of Black-dominant district

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Voting rights groups that sued state officials over a Florida redistricting plan championed by Gov. The agreement reached late last week opens the possibility that the seat will be restored to a district dominated by Black voters, depending on how a state judge rules and whether the judge’s decision survives rounds of appeals all the way to …

Judge blocks DeSantis law on barring ‘woke’ education
2 years, 1 month ago

Judge blocks DeSantis law on barring ‘woke’ education

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida on Thursday blocked a law pushed by Gov. Tallahassee U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a temporary injunction against the so-called “Stop Woke” act in a ruling that called the legislation “positively dystopian.” The law prohibits teaching or business practices that contend members of one ethnic group are inherently racist and should …

How Ron DeSantis blew up black-held congressional districts and may have broken Florida law
2 years, 2 months ago

How Ron DeSantis blew up black-held congressional districts and may have broken Florida law

Raw Story  

Ron DeSantis was incensed. Barbara Pariente, a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court who retired in 2019, told ProPublica that DeSantis’ collaboration with people connected to the national GOP would constitute “significant evidence of a violation of the constitutional amendment.” “If that evidence was offered in a trial, the fact that DeSantis was getting input from someone working …

NC Supreme Court OKs speeding up redistricting arguments
2 years, 4 months ago

NC Supreme Court OKs speeding up redistricting arguments

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — In another remapping decision along partisan leanings, the North Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to speed up arguments on further challenges to the boundaries for the state’s legislative seats and congressional districts. But the order said expediting all redistricting appeals was based on “the great public interest in the subject matter of this case, the importance of …

Judge blocks Louisiana Congress map with one Black district
2 years, 6 months ago

Judge blocks Louisiana Congress map with one Black district

Associated Press  

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana’s Democratic governor said Monday he will call the Republican-dominated Legislature into special session soon to draw up new congressional district boundaries, now that a federal judge has blocked use of maps that have only one majority-Black district. He spoke to reporters minutes after the 2022 regular legislative session ended, and a few hours after U.S. District …

Judges impose voided Statehouse map, set Aug. 2 primary
2 years, 6 months ago

Judges impose voided Statehouse map, set Aug. 2 primary

Associated Press  

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal court panel on Friday ordered Ohio to hold an Aug. 2 primary using the third set of Statehouse maps approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission, despite a rebuke of the plan by the state’s high court. “So we chose the best of our bad options.” The federal court’s decision came in a lawsuit brought by …

Florida appeals court reinstates DeSantis congressional map
2 years, 7 months ago

Florida appeals court reinstates DeSantis congressional map

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new congressional map drawn by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ staff that could diminish the state’s Black representation in Washington was reinstated by an appeals court Friday, a week after a lower court judge said the map was unconstitutional. “To avoid uncertainty and confusion in the upcoming 2022 primary and general elections, it’s important to move …

Judge blocks DeSantis’ redistricting plan; state appeals
2 years, 7 months ago

Judge blocks DeSantis’ redistricting plan; state appeals

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A judge’s ruling that a new congressional map drawn by Republican Florida Gov. Thursday’s notice of appeal came hours after Circuit Judge Layne Smith issued an injunction to prevent the DeSantis map from being used in the November election. “This Court finds that a narrow remedy — one that addresses only the diminishment discussed in this order …

Judge says he’ll block Gov. Ron DeSantis’ redistricting plan
2 years, 7 months ago

Judge says he’ll block Gov. Ron DeSantis’ redistricting plan

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A congressional map approved by Florida Republican Gov. “The judge recognizes that this map is unlawful and diminishes African Americans’ ability to elect representatives of their choice,” Lawson said in a statement emailed to news outlets. “As Judge Smith implied, these complex constitutional matters of law were always going to be decided at the appellate level,” DeSantis …

Judge declines to toss New York Assembly redistricting maps
2 years, 7 months ago

Judge declines to toss New York Assembly redistricting maps

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — A New York judge refused Wednesday to throw out new political maps setting the boundaries of state Assembly districts, saying even though they were drafted improperly, opponents had waited too long to join the lawsuit challenging them in court. Previous court rulings struck down the party’s favored new maps for state Senate and U.S. House districts as …

Florida adopts new US election map in likely boost to Republicans
2 years, 8 months ago

Florida adopts new US election map in likely boost to Republicans

Al Jazeera  

A new Florida congressional map proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis has been approved by the Republican-led state legislature, setting up a likely advantage for Florida Republicans in November’s US elections. Florida’s congressional map was redrawn as part of a nationwide redistricting process in the United States in which seats in the US House of Representatives are reapportioned to reflect population …

Florida lawmakers take up Gov. DeSantis’ congressional map
2 years, 8 months ago

Florida lawmakers take up Gov. DeSantis’ congressional map

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As critics decried a congressional redistricting map submitted by Republican Ron DeSantis as racially motivated and drawn to benefit the GOP, the staff member who crafted the maps told lawmakers Tuesday he didn’t take race or party politics into consideration in preparing it. DeSantis, who is a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has argued the previous map included …

DeSantis congressional map tears up Black rep’s district
2 years, 8 months ago

DeSantis congressional map tears up Black rep’s district

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Black congressman’s district would be dismantled under a map Republican Gov. Before the map was submitted, DeSantis had said the 200-mile-long district, which would assure Black voters could choose a Black candidate, would violate constitutional standards for compactness of districts. That is not the way we’ve governed in the state of Florida,” said DeSantis, who has …

Florida lawmakers let DeSantis draw a congressional map after he vetoed the last one
2 years, 8 months ago

Florida lawmakers let DeSantis draw a congressional map after he vetoed the last one

NPR  

Florida lawmakers let DeSantis draw a congressional map after he vetoed the last one Enlarge this image toggle caption Wilfredo Lee/AP Wilfredo Lee/AP Republican legislative leaders in Florida say they're going to give up trying to redraw the state's new map of congressional districts and instead consider one offered by Gov. The announcement on Monday by state Senate President Wilton …

Florida Legislature gives up, asks gov for congressional map
2 years, 8 months ago

Florida Legislature gives up, asks gov for congressional map

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Legislature’s new approach on drawing congressional maps is, if at first you don’t succeed, don’t try again. House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson sent a memo to lawmakers Monday ahead of a special session next week saying legislative staff will not draw new maps to be considered by the chambers. In an …

Judge rejects New York’s redistricting plan, orders new maps
2 years, 8 months ago

Judge rejects New York’s redistricting plan, orders new maps

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — A lower-court judge declared New York’s new congressional and legislative district maps unconstitutional Thursday and ordered the legislature to quickly redraw them, a process that could delay the state’s fast-approaching party primaries. If the Democrat-controlled legislature can’t come up with “bipartisanly supported” maps fast the judge said he would hire his own expert to redraw them, at …

Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoes new congressional maps
2 years, 8 months ago

Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoes new congressional maps

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a rare disagreement with the Republican-dominated Legislature, Florida Gov. The House approved two maps, a primary map to appease the governor that dismantled Lawson’s district, but would have created a Black plurality district in Jacksonville. DeSantis’ proposal also would likely give Republicans more Florida seats than the maps approved by the House and Senate. “From the …

DeSantis, lawmakers sued by groups over congressional maps
2 years, 9 months ago

DeSantis, lawmakers sued by groups over congressional maps

Associated Press  

MIAMI — Voter rights groups are suing Florida Gov. Before DeSantis proposed how to redraw the districts, the Florida Senate had passed a new congressional map in January that was “substantially compliant with the law and largely successful in protecting minority voting rights,” the complaint said. After DeSantis’ proposals, lawmakers appeared to try to please the governor, by scrapping their …

Samuel Alito Reveals His Partisan GOP Bias
2 years, 9 months ago

Samuel Alito Reveals His Partisan GOP Bias

Huff Post  

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito takes contradicting positions in two important election law cases. “The applicants will be irreparably harmed if a stay is not granted because they will be deprived of their constitutional prerogative to draw the congressional map in their State, and the public interest will be disserved if the 2022 congressional elections in North Carolina are held …

Court rejects GOP redistricting plans in NC, Pennsylvania
2 years, 9 months ago

Court rejects GOP redistricting plans in NC, Pennsylvania

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a victory for Democrats, the Supreme Court has turned away efforts from Republicans in North Carolina and Pennsylvania to block state court-ordered congressional districting plans. In separate orders late Monday, the justices are allowing maps selected by each state’s Supreme Court to be in effect for the 2022 elections. The justices provided no explanation for their actions, …

DeSantis says he’ll veto congressional map passed by House
2 years, 9 months ago

DeSantis says he’ll veto congressional map passed by House

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Republican-dominated Florida House tried — and failed — to please Republican Gov. “I don’t bluff.” The House later passed a bill on a 67-47 vote that approved a primary map that was introduced a week ago in an effort to appease the governor’s concerns about the constitutionality of the district of U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, an …

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