Florida redistricting

Several counties in the new District 2 are in Lawson's congressional district or were in districts he's represented in the state House and Senate.

The state's highest court denied the plaintiffs' request to lift the appeals court's stay after the majority found it lacks jurisdiction to weigh in on the matter.

The decision comes a week after a lower court judge said the map was unconstitutional.

In a recent Florida Matters, host Matthew Peddie talked with political journalist William March about how Gov. Ron DeSantis' new redistricting maps will impact voters across the Tampa area.

Judge Layne Smith sided with voting-rights groups that requested he lift the stay.

The Democrat joined Ben Diamond, who pulled out of the race last week and cited the state's new congressional map.

The Democrat, who was seeking Charlie Crist's open seat, said he will re-enter the race if the new congressional map is struck down in court.

He agreed with voting-rights groups that said the changes to a North Florida congressional district would eliminate the ability of Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice.

In a response, attorneys for Secretary of State Laurel Lee say keeping the current sprawling configuration of District 5 would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

His priorities during the latest legislative session have put him at the leading edge of the country’s “culture war.”

State Sen. Linda Stewart said the "latest word" on the state's plan puts Disney in a new district controlled by the governor's appointees.

The plaintiffs say the new map is "intentionally destroying Black opportunity districts in Florida and splintering Black communities of interest throughout the State."