Holder Condemns Florida’s Planned Congressional Redistricting as Power Grab
Former Attorney General Eric Holder warns Florida Republicans plan to layer new gerrymandering on existing maps, potentially affecting five congressional seats.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder criticized Governor Ron DeSantis’ plan to redraw Florida’s congressional map, calling it a calculated effort to benefit former President Donald Trump while strengthening DeSantis’ political standing with conservative voters.
“Florida Republicans are preparing to redraw their already gerrymandered map. They want to put a gerrymander on top of a gerrymander and potentially steal up to five additional seats in the midterms this fall,” Holder said during a Zoom conference call organized by Equal Ground Florida on Monday night.
The Florida Legislature is scheduled to return to Tallahassee on Tuesday to discuss and vote on new congressional redistricting maps. According to a memo from Senate President Ben Albritton last week, the Legislature appears prepared to cede that authority to DeSantis’ office.
Previous Redistricting Efforts Draw Criticism
Holder, who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, referenced the controversial 2022 congressional redistricting map that DeSantis’ office created. That map eliminated a North Florida district where Black voters comprised nearly half of the eligible voting population.
“These are maps designed to dilute the voting power of Black Floridians. It’s a blatant power grab. It’s a preview of what he’s prepared to do again right now,” Holder said during the call.
A coalition of voting rights groups challenged the 2022 map, arguing it violated Florida’s Fair Districts Amendments, which constitutionally prohibit the diminishment of minority voting power. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the map as constitutional last summer.
Supreme Court Influence Questioned
Holder accused DeSantis of manipulating the state’s highest court to advance his redistricting agenda. He contended that the governor had “stacked” the court with justices aligned with his views, using judicial cover to implement what he described as some of the nation’s most aggressive gerrymanders.
The former attorney general, who served under President Barack Obama, established the National Democratic Redistricting Committee in 2017 with assistance from top Democratic Party officials after leaving his federal position.
Political Motivations Alleged
During the virtual meeting, Holder suggested DeSantis’ redistricting efforts serve dual purposes: supporting Trump’s political interests while positioning the Florida governor for potential future presidential ambitions.
He characterized the planned map changes as an attempt to “burnish” DeSantis’ credentials with his “rightwing base” should the governor decide to pursue another White House bid.
As the Legislature prepares to convene this week, the redistricting process remains in flux, with lawmakers apparently willing to defer to the governor’s office on map creation. The outcome could significantly impact Florida’s congressional delegation heading into the fall midterm elections.
