Florida Judge Upholds Congressional Map

A Tallahassee judge, Joshua Hawkes, ruled to uphold United States — Florida's newly drawn congressional districts for the 2026 elections, rejecting challenges from voting rights organizations including Common Cause and Equal Ground Education Fund. These groups argued that the map, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis and passed by the United States — Florida Legislature, was drawn to illegally favor the United States — Republican Party (United States) and violated United States — Florida's 2010 Florida Amendment 6. The judge found insufficient evidence of impermissible intent for early court intervention and noted that a previous United States — Supreme Court of the United States ruling on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 influenced the decision, suggesting that the previous map's race-based district could be unconstitutional. The ruling allows the new map to remain in place as qualifying for United States — United States House of Representatives seats approaches, though the voting rights groups have vowed to appeal the decision.