Florida judge strikes down DeSantis approved congressional map, rules unconstitutional

A Florida judge this weekend struck down a congressional map approved by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, ruling it diluted minority voting power in the region, making it “unconstitutional.”

“This Court will declare the enacted map unconstitutional and enjoin the Secretary of State from using that map in future congressional elections,” according to the ruling issued Saturday by Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh. 

Marsh also said in the ruling that the state legislature will have to redraw the map again because the plaintiffs have shown this one causes “diminishment of black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice in violation of the Florida Constitution.”

The map struck down affected the House seat that was formerly held by Rep. Al Lawson, a black Democrat, according to the Epoch Times.