DeSantis delays Florida’s redistricting special session

The Hill ^ | 04/16/26 | Caroline Vakil

[MinorityRepublican]

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is delaying his special session on redistricting, issuing a proclamation on Wednesday that the state Legislature would convene between April 28 and May 1 instead of next week.

The rescheduled special session will also focus on issues related to artificial intelligence and medical freedom.

DeSantis initially called for a special session next week to take up the Sunshine State’s congressional lines but indicated earlier this week that there could be a delay as lawmakers finish budget negotiations.

“It’s possible you could do a little tweak, but you can’t really push it very far. You got to get it done probably within the next couple weeks,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Tallahassee earlier this week. “And so that will happen one way or another. Maybe on the date that was called, if they, you know, some folks have asked maybe a little bit more time.”

Florida is seen as the last opportunity for Republicans to redraw congressional lines before the midterms. Some have previously suggested Florida could net as many as five seats, though recent elections in the state have suggested redistricting could end up doing more harm than good for the party.

[GAHeel]

Also, it delayed because SCOTUS is about to release it’s blockbuster VRA case that could add 10-15 seats in the South

[paltz]

It’s delayed b/c if the Virginia referendum is approved by voters on Tuesday, Virginia’s Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of the referendum by the 27th and a decision could come anytime after that.

[PermaRag]

“Also, it delayed because SCOTUS is about to release it’s blockbuster VRA case that could add 10-15 seats in the South”

Nope.

That ruling is unlikely to occur this month, and won’t happen before the new rescheduled Florida session. The Supreme Court’s liberal dissenters are slow-walking things to make sure the VRA decision won’t help Republicans in 2026 because it’ll be too late to redraw maps and fend off the inevitable Rat lawsuits.

People who are betting the farm on “GOP +5 in Florida!!!” in order to offset Virginia in 2026 (and other liberal states which will gerrymander for 2028) are likely to be very disappointed.

DeSantis wants to help as much as possible; however the FL legislature and ESPECIALLY the current squishy GOP U.S. House incumbents in Florida are very nervous about redrawing the lines and feel the party may actually LOSE seats if a new map goes into effect. Two very recent special election losses in the state back up their viewpoint, so they say.

Florida is the Hail Mary pass the GOP needs to complete in order to have any real chance of holding onto House control after 2026. Like most Hail Mary passes, it is likely to fall short.