Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calls April special session on redistricting [View all]

Source: NBC News

Jan. 7, 2026, 2:33 PM EST


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday called for a special legislative session to take up a redraw of the state's congressional map in April, following through on his promise to dive into the national mid-decade redistricting fray.

“Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally," DeSantis said in a post on X. "This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April."

DeSantis said the session will occur April 20-24, which would run right up against the state’s April 24 candidate filing deadline, though that could be moved. Florida's primaries are set to take place in August.

DeSantis made it clear he wanted to delay consideration of a new congressional map as long as possible in anticipation of a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could weaken the Voting Rights Act and make it easier for Florida Republicans to draw additional GOP-friendly districts.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/florida-gov-ron-desantis-calls-april-special-session-redistricting-rcna252844