Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session to redraw the state’s congressional map in April, with lawmakers set to convene in Tallahassee from April 20-24 to consider legislation relating to congressional redistricting.

The move adds Florida to a list of states conducting mid-decade redistricting that could reshape control of the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The special session will run right up against Florida’s April 24 candidate filing deadline, though that could be moved, with Florida’s primaries set for August.

Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd issued a directive in March declaring 2026 as a year of apportionment for candidate qualification purposes.

The timing has intensified a brewing political conflict between DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner, who has advocated for moving more quickly on redistricting rather than waiting for court decisions. The disagreement reflects broader tensions that have marked recent legislative sessions.

DeSantis has said he wants to wait for anticipated U.S. Supreme Court rulings in voting rights cases that could affect how states must consider racial demographics when drawing congressional lines.

“We want to make sure we’re operating with the most current legal framework,” DeSantis said at a March press conference.

The Supreme Court is considering several voting rights cases this term that could impact redistricting requirements, with the conservative majority potentially weakening aspects of the Voting Rights Act and changing how states approach majority-minority districts.

Republicans currently control 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts. GOP leaders believe a new map could potentially strengthen their position, though the Florida Constitution contains provisions aimed at preventing unfair district manipulation.

The redistricting push comes as President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-controlled states to draw new maps to shore up the GOP’s narrow House majority. Texas, Missouri and North Carolina have already enacted new congressional maps since the 2022 elections, with other states considering similar moves.

Legal challenges have been filed in several states conducting mid-decade redistricting, with courts examining whether the new maps comply with federal and state constitutional requirements.

The relationship between DeSantis and legislative leadership has shown signs of strain over redistricting timing and strategy. During the governor’s State of the State address in January, observers noted awkward body language between DeSantis and House leadership.

“There’s clearly some disagreement about the best path forward,” said one Republican legislator who requested anonymity to speak candidly about internal party dynamics.

While lawmakers must convene when a governor calls a special session, they are not required to pass any legislation. This dynamic adds uncertainty to whether the session will produce new maps, particularly given ongoing tensions over timing and legal strategy.

The current congressional map was drawn by DeSantis after the 2020 census, giving Republicans a 20-8 advantage in Florida’s congressional delegation. DeSantis vetoed maps drawn by the legislature that would have been more competitive, instead implementing his own version that eliminated two historically Black-performing districts.

Florida voters approved constitutional amendments in 2010 aimed at preventing partisan and racial gerrymandering through the Fair Districts amendments. However, the Florida Supreme Court, with a conservative majority appointed largely by DeSantis, has been more permissive of aggressive redistricting than previous courts.

The legal landscape around redistricting has shifted significantly in recent years. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that federal courts cannot hear challenges to partisan gerrymandering, leaving such disputes to state courts and legislatures.

Democrats have criticized the redistricting effort as purely political. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa called the plan “an attempt to further gerrymander districts for partisan gain.”

“Voters passed Fair Districts to stop exactly this kind of mid-decade redistricting for political purposes,” Driskell said in a statement to reporters.

The April special session timeline is particularly compressed. Lawmakers will have just five days to review proposed maps, hold public hearings, and vote on new districts that could remain in place for the rest of the decade.

Redistricting experts note that mid-decade map changes are unusual and often face heightened legal scrutiny. Courts typically expect states to use maps drawn after each decennial census for the full decade unless required to change them by litigation.

“The closer you get to an election, the more courts are reluctant to change maps,” said Michael McDonald, a University of Florida redistricting expert. “But if the legislature acts, courts will have to evaluate whether the new maps meet legal requirements.”

The special session comes as both parties are preparing for what could be highly competitive 2026 midterm elections. Control of the House remains narrow, making Florida’s large delegation particularly important for both parties’ electoral strategies.

Any new maps approved in April would likely face immediate legal challenges from voting rights groups and Democrats, potentially creating uncertainty about which districts will actually be used in 2026 depending on court rulings.