Following the Governor’s veto of the Congressional redistricting maps due to it following federal and state requirements to protect the power of Black voters in north Florida to elect representatives of their choosing, members of the House Democratic Caucus issued the following statements:
Ranking member on the Redistricting Committee, Representative Joseph Geller (D- Aventura) said, “Governor DeSantis vetoed the Congressional maps solely because they protected Black voters’ ability to choose a candidate of their choice, as required by the Voting Rights Amendment and the Florida constitution. The law is clear: you cannot diminish the voting power of Black Floridians in the way the Governor wants. The map Governor DeSantis wants us to give him isn’t legal or appropriate, and it’s important that everyone understands that. I don’t know what will happen in April, but we will not sit quietly as Black voters are robbed of their ability to elect their own voice in Congress.
Ranking member on the Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee, Representative Kelly Skidmore (D- Boca Raton) added, “The Governor’s veto is no surprise as he has made it clear that he intended to veto any map that protects the voting rights of minorities. DeSantis’ predetermined decision to veto this bill has everything to do with continuing to disenfranchise Florida voters. From the beginning of the redistricting process, DeSantis has been force-feeding his desired map onto House and Senate leadership resulting in a ridiculous two-map legislative submission that cowardly attempted to appease his racist political agenda. I did not vote for the submitted maps and I will not be part of any plan to override a veto. Without Florida’s newly allocated 28th district in an approved map, we are currently unable to hold congressional elections.”
Policy Chair, Representative Fentrice Driskell (D- Tampa) said, “This Special Session will be a preventable waste of taxpayer money. The Governor’s decision to veto the Congressional maps is solely because he wants to diminish the voices of Black voters in north Florida, despite what federal law and the Florida Constitution require. The Governor must remove his heavy hand from this process and concern himself with the real problems facing us today. Skyrocketing property insurance rates are out of control, and our housing crisis is making Florida too expensive for many Floridians. We need real leadership and solutions, not a presidential campaign masquerading as a state government.”