Although Gov. Ron DeSantis says he’s intent on pursuing a mid-decade congressional redistricting that would help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House in 2026, the majority of Floridians do not agree — and that includes a majority of Republicans.
The survey of nearly 500 Floridians of all political stripes conducted by Common Cause finds that 55% oppose the idea, with only 26% in support and another 19% undecided.
The opposition is consistent across party lines: Among Republicans, 45% oppose the idea, with 36% supporting it and 18% having no opinion. Among political independents, 60% oppose the plan with just 14% supporting it. Among Democrats, 62% oppose the idea, with 25% supporting it.
“In very clear terms, our poll shows even Republicans in Florida do not support mid-decade redistricting,” said Amy Keith, Florida executive director of Common Cause, in a written statement. “Floridians do not want the legislature to waste their time and our taxpayer dollars trying to make our voting maps even more gerrymandered than they already are. The legislature should follow the data and stop their work on this issue. Floridians want them to focus on the real issues impacting our lives, like the cost of groceries, housing and insurance.”
Common Cause is a national watchdog organization with chapters in 35 states. It historically has supported independent redistricting, campaign finance laws, and stronger election safeguards.
Redistricting the state’s congressional map was never on DeSantis’ agenda throughout this year. That changed after Texas Republicans responded to a demand by the Justice Department to redraw their congressional map in early July. In doing so, they provided President Donald Trump with what he wanted — a mid-decade redrawing of district lines to maintain Republican control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
That move motivated California Gov. Gavin Newsom to say that he would try to counter Texas and redraw his state’s congressional map (although that could only happen if state voters pause a state law establishing an independent commission). Governors in both blue and red states have since said they would consider redistricting.
DeSantis first took up the issue on July 24, when he said in Bradenton that he thought that the state was “malapportioned.”
“So, I do think it would be appropriate to do a redistricting in the mid-decade?” he said. “So, we’re working through what that would look like, but I can tell you, just look at how the population has shifted in different parts of the state over a four-to-five year period. It’s been really significant.”
DeSantis maintains that the state’s population was severely undercounted in the 2020 U.S. Census and that along with the changes in population (which in Florida includes many more registered Republicans than there were in 2020), the time is now to redraw congressional seats instead of waiting until 2032.
In response, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) has created a select committee on congressional redistricting and named Rep. Mike Redondo (R-Miami) to chair it earlier this week. Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) has not said whether he will create a similar committee.
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly argues Florida and every other state in the country should create an independent redistricting commission. According to the Common Cause survey, an overwhelming majority of voters in Florida (76%) do, as well.
On Tuesday, the Missouri House of Representatives passed a new congressional map. That prompted Trump to write on social media that “this new Map will give the wonderful people of Missouri the opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections. The Missouri Senate must pass this Map now, AS IS, to deliver a gigantic Victory for Republicans in the ‘Show Me State,’ and across the Country.”
Common Cause commissioned Noble Predictive Insights to conduct the 499-person Florida poll between Aug. 26 and Sept. 2. It has an error margin of +/- 4.39%.
–Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
Deborah Coffey says
Well, yeah….He’s already got it pretty gerrymandered. But his racism will likely win out.
Joe says
I think it could backfire and make some of those safe Republican seats vulnerable. Some of those safe 60% GOP districts could turn into 53% GOP making the races competitive.
Let’s not get into a gerrymandering battle across the Country and costing taxpayers Billions of dollars all because politicians are making a political power play, instead of focusing on inflation, Farmers, healthcare or the needs of the citizens they serve!
Joe D says
OMG! Could this new redistricting map be any more chopped up in little pieces!?!
Especially noticeable is the minority concentrated Orlando and Miami areas diced into such tiny pieces as to be functionally meaningless as operating districts. And what is all this going to do to waste my tax money to now:?produce it $$$, pass it in the “rubber stamp” Tallahassee legislature $$$, only to spend months ( years? $$$) Navigating the court APPEALS SYSTEM! Gov Ron ( in my opinion) doesn’t CARE…it’s not HIS MONEY being WASTED!
Florida already has 4 out of 5 registered voters listed as REPUBLICANS! What MORE can Governor Ron want!?!
This miss-mash of new districts is so OBVIOUSLY designed to take away ANY MINORITY voting power, because the current districts have been fed through a political “food processor,” resulting in tiny little (almost unreadably tiny ) new blocks of districts in the DIVERSE Orlando and Miami areas!
Florida voters of all stripes need to fight this RIDICULOUS WASTE of taxpayer money to appease our OUTGOING Governor’s attempt to win favor ( like Texas), from godfather Trump…trying (desperately in my opinion ) to hang onto Republican congressional seats, in fear of public reaction once the REAL effects of the rebranded “BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” cuts in Education, FEMA, medical coverage, solar industry jobs ( of which Florida has an EXTENSIVE industry which stands to lose 100,000’s jobs once the industry tax incentives and federal funding of solar and wind projects stop soon after 12/31/25) start being FELT ATVTHE LOCAL LEVEL…all to give big tax breaks to the top 3% of earners and either “no tax breaks” or “pennies” in tax breaks for those making $50k or less!
Pay attention taxpayers! This is YOUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS BEING WASTED!
Pogo says
@A malevolent man
https://www.google.com/search?q=malevolent+definition
… does what he always does: whatever is in his favor is right and true. When something is not in his favor: no law, rule, procedure, tradition, custom, etc., matters. Even, while sternly mouthing — if YOU disagree with a law change it — following law, rule, procedure, tradition, custom, etc. when YOU disagree — and BECAUSE I SAY SO when HE disagrees.