Special Session Called to Redraw Congressional District Boundaries

On July 9, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in a 5-2 decision that eight of Florida's 27 congressional districts violated a 2010 constitutional amendment aimed at preventing gerrymandering. A legal challenge claimed that legislators violated the state Constitution during the 2012 redistricting process, the once-a-decade reapportionment that follows every Census. 

The eight districts directly affected by the ruling are represented by the following members of Congress: Corrine Brown (District 5); David Jolly (District 13); Kathy Castor (District 14); Ted Deutch (District 21); Lois Frankel (District 22); Mario Diaz-Balart (District 25); Carlos Curbelo (District 26); and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (District 27). However, redrawing the eight districts will also affect other districts. Leon County Circuit Judge George S. Reynolds III told lawmakers that a special legislative session to redraw the districts and a subsequent hearing must be finished by September 25. 

In a joint proclamation, the Florida House and Senate called a special session for the sole purpose of redrawing district boundaries to be held Monday, August 10 through Friday, August 21.