ORLANDO, Fla. — In a surprise move, Gov. Ron DeSantis has inserted himself into congressional redistricting by releasing his own map that experts said Tuesday would dilute minority voting power and likely give Republicans an 18-10 advantage in Florida seats.
DeSantis’ map, released Sunday in the middle of Dr. Martin Luther King Day weekend, would eliminate a North Florida seat long designed to have African American representation and could create a majority white Democratic primary in the Orange County district represented by outgoing U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who is Black.
It would also dilute Hispanic voting power in South Florida by splitting up Hispanic voters into several different districts.
