Governor Ron DeSantis is calling out the “flawed” 2020 census and pushing for a rare mid-decade redistricting in Florida—a move that could shake the very foundation of fair representation and hand Republicans more power ahead of the 2026 midterms.
DeSantis Demands Action after “Flawed” Census
Governor Ron DeSantis has had enough of what he calls the “flawed” 2020 U.S. Census. He claims the census undercounted Florida’s surging population, robbing the state of at least one more seat in Congress. DeSantis, not one to let Washington’s mistakes stand, is considering asking the Florida Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional map now—five years ahead of schedule. The governor’s frustration is shared by many Floridians tired of being shortchanged and ignored by bureaucrats in D.C. If this push succeeds, Florida voters could see new congressional districts before the ink is even dry on the last redistricting.
DeSantis’s move comes on the heels of a Florida Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Republican-favored 2022 congressional map. Emboldened by the court’s decision, DeSantis has publicly floated the idea of mid-decade redistricting at several events, citing the census debacle as justification. “I do think it would be appropriate to do a redistricting here in the mid-decade. So, we’re working through what that would look like,” DeSantis said. The prospect of more Republican seats in Congress has Democrats sounding the alarm, but with a GOP supermajority in Tallahassee, the opposition is little more than background noise.
Republicans See Opportunity, Democrats See Power Grab
Florida’s population has exploded in recent years, outpacing the rest of the country and making the question of fair representation more urgent than ever. The 2020 census, already delayed and muddled by COVID-19 and political wrangling over whether to count undocumented immigrants, is now being blamed for Florida’s alleged shortfall. DeSantis isn’t alone in his skepticism—the Republican Party, eyeing the 2026 midterms, sees a golden opportunity to maximize gains not just in Florida, but nationwide. Texas is already pursuing its own mid-decade redistricting, signaling a growing trend among red states to take matters into their own hands.
Not surprisingly, Democrats and their allies in advocacy groups are calling foul, labeling the plan a “dangerous abuse of power.” State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell called DeSantis’s proposal a “dangerous abuse of power,” echoing warnings from national groups like Common Cause, who fear a “domino effect” that could undermine the stability of redistricting everywhere. But let’s be honest—when the system is rigged against you, waiting around for the next decade is a luxury Florida can’t afford. The Supreme Court has never prohibited mid-decade redistricting, and with the state’s Republican supermajority, there’s little question who’s calling the shots.
Potential National Precedent and the Battle for Representation
The stakes couldn’t be higher. If Florida moves forward, other states will almost certainly follow, shattering the old ten-year cycle and making redistricting a weapon in the ongoing war for congressional control. The U.S. Supreme Court has generally allowed states to redraw maps more frequently than every decade, provided they don’t violate constitutional protections. Texas set the precedent in 2003, and now Florida stands ready to take the baton. The result? A political landscape where the party in power can cement its dominance for years to come, and voters in fast-growing states may finally get the representation they deserve.
Of course, the Census Bureau isn’t admitting any major errors, and the feasibility of a new, full-blown census before 2030 is deeply uncertain. But DeSantis is already discussing the possibility with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and floating the idea of a new census under a future Trump administration. With the 2026 midterms looming and the fight for control of Congress heating up, the pressure is on. The only question is whether other governors will have the courage to follow DeSantis’s lead and demand fair representation for their states—or whether they’ll let the left’s bureaucratic games keep them sidelined for another decade.
Legal Battles and the Road Ahead
Legal challenges are all but guaranteed. Democrats and advocacy groups are already gearing up for a court fight, claiming that mid-decade redistricting is nothing more than partisan gerrymandering. But Florida’s Supreme Court has just handed DeSantis a win, and federal courts have historically allowed states wide latitude as long as constitutional protections are respected. In the short term, Florida voters may see new congressional boundaries and increased Republican representation just in time for the next election cycle. In the long term, this fight could fundamentally alter how states handle redistricting and representation for generations to come.
The reality is simple: when Washington fails, states must defend their own interests. DeSantis’s challenge to the census is a call to action for every state tired of being shortchanged by bureaucratic incompetence and leftist agendas. With the future of congressional representation—and perhaps even the balance of power in Washington—on the line, it’s no wonder this story has the nation’s attention.
