Florida Supreme Court allows new Republican-drawn U.S. House districts to be used in 2026 elections

The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the state’s new Republican-drawn congressional map to be used in the 2026 elections, removing the biggest immediate obstacle to the districts ahead of the state’s primary deadline.

In a 6-1 ruling, the court denied a request for a temporary injunction that would have blocked the map. The majority said it lacked jurisdiction to intervene at this stage, leaving the underlying lawsuit to continue in lower courts.

The decision gives candidates and election officials a clearer path toward Florida’s Aug. 18 primary qualifying deadline. It also means the new lines remain in effect for now, even as opponents keep pressing their challenge.

How the map got here

Florida lawmakers approved the congressional map during a special session on April 29. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law on May 4.

A Florida judge later allowed the map to remain in place on May 26 while related lawsuits proceeded. Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling preserved that status quo and gave the map its strongest legal protection so far ahead of the 2026 cycle.

The fight is rooted in Florida’s Fair Districts constitutional amendment, approved by voters in 2010. That amendment bars partisan gerrymandering and limits maps that diminish minority representation.

Political stakes

Republicans already hold 20 of Florida’s 28 U.S. House seats. AP reported that the new map could improve the party’s chances of winning as many as four additional seats.

That makes the ruling especially significant in a state where district lines can shape several closely watched races at once. The map is part of a broader national push to redraw House districts before the 2026 midterms.

State officials have defended the map as race-neutral and lawful. Attorney General James Uthmeier, who argued for the state, called the outcome a victory.

Opponents, including Equal Ground and Common Cause Florida, say the map is a partisan gerrymander and violates the state constitution. They said they will continue the legal fight.

What the court did not decide

The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the broader lawsuit. Its order only denied emergency relief and allowed the districts to stay in place while the case continues.

That distinction matters because the legal challenge is not over. Further appeals or emergency requests could still come later, and the dispute could remain active into the next election cycle if litigation drags on.

A concurring justice said the case did not warrant special treatment. A dissent argued the approaching 2026 election timetable made the dispute urgent.

What happens next

For now, candidates are expected to move forward under the new district lines for the 2026 primary and general election cycle unless another court intervenes.

The broader constitutional fight over Florida’s map continues, and the final outcome could still shape the state’s congressional delegation beyond 2026.