The ruling keeps the governor’s redistricting map in place, breaking up the district represented by Congressman Al Lawson, a Black Democrat first elected in 2016.
The Florida Supreme Court will allow the state to keep in place a redistricting map the critics say will likely disenfranchise Black voters.
The high court elected not to hear an appeal by voting rights groups, plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the state, who wanted the maps drawn by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office thrown out, he plans to run again in November. The newspaper pointed out the challenge Lawson faces: The previously drawn district he represented voted for Joe Biden 62%, while the newly mapped district went for Donald Trump 54%.
Lawson and others who fought the redrawn maps slammed the court’s 4-1 decision. Two justices recused themselves but didn’t say why.
“The Florida Supreme Court’s refusal to act on Ron DeSantis’ unlawful and unconstitutional congressional map is disappointing and will disenfranchise thousands of Black voters across the State of Florida,” Lawson said in a press release on his website.
“Today’s decision is indeed disheartening. The fact that Ron DeSantis appointed three of the four justices who rubberstamped his map made this outcome predictable,” he continued. “This shameful decision by the Florida Supreme Court is further indication that our judiciary has become overly political and is no longer an independent branch of government as our founders intended.”
TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!
The post Florida Supreme Court backs DeSantis, diluting 370,000 Black votes across 4 GOP-leaning districts appeared first on TheGrio.
