Florida's congressional districts

rdf:langString Florida's congressional districts

rdf:langString October 2020

rdf:langString what do they do?

rdf:langString Florida is divided into 27 congressional districts, each represented by a member of the United States House of Representatives. After the 2010 Census, the number of Florida's seats was increased from 25 to 27 due to the state's increase in population, and subsequent reapportionment in 2012. The Florida congressional districts are represented in the 117th United States Congress by 9 Democrats and 16 Republicans. There are 2 vacant seats as of October 2022. In 2010 more than 63 percent of Florida voters approved the initiated Amendments 5 and 6, known as the "Fair District Amendments," to the state constitution, over the objections of the Republican-controlled legislature. These are intended to promote fairness in congressional districts and "prohibit lawmakers from intentionally drawing districts that favor incumbents or political parties." The legislature had adopted new districts in 2012 as a result of the 2010 census. Their product was soon challenged in early 2011 by groups who had worked for passage of the amendments, including the League of Women Voters and Common Cause. The trial revealed much secret dealings by party operatives and lawmakers; the court set a new legal standard. At one point the court excluded the press and shut down the TV feed in order to allow three hours of testimony by a political operative. On July 9, 2014, a Florida judge ruled that state Republicans had illegally drawn the state's congressional districts. Judge Terry P. Lewis of Florida's Second Judicial Circuit ordered that the 5th and 10th districts be redrawn. On appeal, the Florida Supreme Court ruled on July 9, 2015 that several more districts had to be redrawn, and that the legislature had unconstitutionally worked to benefit the Republican Party. The historic ruling was considered likely to affect most of the state's 27 districts. On December 2, 2015, the state supreme court approved a remedial plan for districting for the 2016 elections. All but Districts 1, 8, and 19 were altered in some way by the plan. Starting in the 2022 midterms, per the 2020 United States census, Florida will gain a new congressional seat.