FL: Judge scrutinizes DeSantis' map that erased U.S. House seat held by Black Democrat
TALLAHASSEE – Linking Jacksonville to Tallahassee in a congressional district has been the only way for almost a decade that Black voters there could be assured of electing a candidate of their choice, attorneys for the state conceded Thursday.
But these lawyers argued the move violates the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and urged a court to uphold boundaries crafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis that eliminated this district held by Black Democrat Al Lawson for three terms.
Black Voters Matter, the League of Women Voters of Florida and others challenging the DeSantis map argue the state was on “novel” legal ground in maintaining that it was only seeking to avoid a conflict between the federal constitution and voter-approved amendments in the state constitution which call for preserving Black-leaning voting districts.
“Ultimately, they’re asking the court to say that the consideration of race in redistricting, whether it’s because of the Fair Districts amendments, the Voting Rights Act or anything else is... unconstitutional,” attorney Abha Khanna told Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh.