Redistricting push from DeSantis and Trump creates uncertainty for Florida congressional candidates

"Congressional candidates - from the long-time incumbents who seem entrenched in office to the long-shot challengers seeking to replace them - have been strategizing for months, sometimes years. They've been raising money, courting grassroots activists, lining up consultants, and figuring out the most promising pockets of support. Now, with just 11 months until Florida's August 2026 primaries and less than 14 months until the November midterm election, there's sudden uncertainty."

"U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Broward-Palm Beach County Democrat, said on a recent politics podcast that the national Republican effort to change districts before the 2026 election could result in a major change in the state: "two or three in Florida." That would be a remarkable shift. The state, which independent analysts have found is already gerrymandered to favor Republicans, has 20 Republican members of Congress and eight Democrats."

"Daniel Smith, a University of Florida political scientist and nationally recognized redistricting expert, said last month the state is already so gerrymandered it could be "tough to squeeze out another Republican seat, much less two." Harder to campaign If the effort proceeds, communities would wind up in different districts, with voters having to choose among candidates they may never have encountered before - and candidates vying for support in new places."

Florida congressional candidates have been building campaigns for months, but face sudden uncertainty with about 11 months until the state's August 2026 primaries and less than 14 months until the November midterms. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican leaders are pushing to redraw congressional boundaries to gain more Republican seats, aligning with a national Republican effort urged by President Trump. Observers note the state is already gerrymandered to favor Republicans, currently holding 20 seats to Democrats' eight, and experts say it may be difficult to create additional Republican seats. Redistricting could relocate communities into new districts, complicating campaigning and voter familiarity.

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