Lawsuits Filed By Democrats Over Redistricting
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBSMiami) – The bill hasn't even been signed by Governor Rick Scott yet, but lawsuits have already been filed over the legislature's once-a-decade redistricting maps.
The Florida Democratic Party announced several voters working with the party filed a lawsuit that accused the legislature of violating the anti-gerrymandering state constitutional amendments voters approved last year.
The maps passed the Florida Senate on a 32-5 vote, while a map redistricting the state House and Senate passed the Senate 31-7.
The state maps will now go Attorney General Pam Bondi for review and then move to the Florida Supreme Court.
Republicans were not concerned with the challenge and said it will not likely be successful.
"The sad part is, now the taxpayers of Florida have to be dragged into court by special-interest groups who always intended to be dissatisfied," Gaetz told reporters after the Senate vote, according to the News Service of Florida.
Democrats said the redistricting will protect Republican majorities in the state, even though the state has more registered Democrats than Republicans.
The lawsuits listed seven districts as violating the new constitutional rules.
