Featured image for “Groups seek new review of North Florida redistricting”
This redistricting plan pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis eliminated the old Congressional District 5, a Black-majority district that stretched from Jacksonville to west of Tallahassee.
4 hours ago

Groups seek new review of North Florida redistricting

Voting rights groups say a plan pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis was racially motivated.…

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1 day ago

Qualifying period begins for Florida congressional races

A lawsuit over a North Florida congressional district continues to work its way through the courts.…

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Then-General Counsel Jason Teal sets up proposed maps at a redistricting meeting after a federal court ordered the Jacksonville City Council to redraw its district maps. | Andrew Pantazi, The Tributary
March 4, 2024

Judge won’t order special election for gerrymandered Duval School Board

School Board members Darryl Willie and Charlotte Joyce will keep their positions without a new election this year.…

Featured image for “Florida Supreme Court to take up North Florida redistricting”
January 25, 2024

Florida Supreme Court to take up North Florida redistricting

The court agreed to consider the case, but it appears it will not be resolved before a candidate-qualifying deadline for…

Featured image for “North Florida redistricting fight heads to Supreme Court”
December 4, 2023

North Florida redistricting fight heads to Supreme Court

Voting rights groups will appeal the elimination of Congressional District 5, a Black-majority district that included parts of Jacksonville.…

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December 1, 2023

Court backs DeSantis on North Florida redistricting

The 1st District Court of Appeal upheld the elimination of a majority-Black district stretching from Jacksonville to Tallahassee.…

Featured image for “Appellate court considers North Florida redistricting”
November 1, 2023

Appellate court considers North Florida redistricting

The court is expected to rule by Nov. 22 the elimination of a Black-majority district stretching from Jacksonville to Gadsden…

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Congressional District 5 looked like this from 2016 until 2022, when the Legislature accepted a new map drawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis' office.
September 5, 2023

Judge rejects North Florida congressional map

Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh ruled that a map pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis was unconstitutional because it diminished the…

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Second Judicial Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh questions Florida attorneys in the congressional redistricting hearing.
August 25, 2023

Judge expresses doubts over state’s redistricting arguments

A Florida judge pressed the state’s lawyers on whether they were asking him to contradict past precedent.…

Featured image for “Is Voting Rights Act on trial in Florida? Redistricting case could have broad impact”
The Florida Capitol. | Andrew Pantazi. The Tributary
August 23, 2023

Is Voting Rights Act on trial in Florida? Redistricting case could have broad impact

A redistricting battle over a North Florida congressional district could have national implications for Black voting rights.…

Featured image for “Hearing set this week on North Florida redistricting”
August 21, 2023

Hearing set this week on North Florida redistricting

A judge will decide whether state lawmakers must reinstate Congressional District 5, a Black majority district that included Jacksonville.…

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June 25, 2023

Jacksonville civil rights activist Ben Frazier dies at 73

Ben Frazier, once a trailblazing journalist who became an advocate for racial justice, has died.…

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The Florida Legislature passed this new congressional district map in April 2022 after Gov. DeSantis vetoed the previous attempt. | Florida Legislature
June 11, 2023

OPINION | ‘DeSantismander’ deserves a legal challenge

Florida’s congressional district map is a fraud, and the most glaring example is my district.  No offense to Aaron Bean,…

Featured image for “Jacksonville redistricting process raises questions of Sunshine Law violations”
Redistricting maps presented at a Jacksonville City Council meeting. | The Tributary
December 12, 2022

Jacksonville redistricting process raises questions of Sunshine Law violations

According to the version of events that Jacksonville’s city lawyers told a federal court, the City Council passed a redistricting…

Featured image for “EXPLORE: How DeSantis’ congressional map affected Northeast Florida midterms”
Gov. DeSantis vetoed a Congressional District 5 that would have been entirely in Duval County.
November 20, 2022

EXPLORE: How DeSantis’ congressional map affected Northeast Florida midterms

Republicans narrowly flipped the U.S. House this election cycle, gaining four seats in Florida  — including one in the newly…

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis | AP
July 17, 2022

OPINION | DeSantis shares blame for Aguilar fiasco

Former Florida Times-Union journalist Matt Dixon, now of POLITICO Florida, had a “scoop” the other day that illustrated tragedies throughout…

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Mayor Lenny Curry and Gov. Ron DeSantis in Jacksonville
April 17, 2022

OPINION | Who wants to be a congressman?

There was no surprise, none at all, for readers of this column regarding what the Florida Legislature would do with…

Featured image for “OPINION | House redistricting map creates Jax-only CD5…lands with a thud”
The proposed Congressional District 5 would be entirely within Duval County | House of Representatives
February 27, 2022

OPINION | House redistricting map creates Jax-only CD5…lands with a thud

The intramural pissing match between Republicans in Tallahassee continues, and no clear resolution is at hand as they try to…

Featured image for “OPINION | What are you so afraid of?”
Jacksonville's director of planning and development, Bill Killingsworth, and councilman Al Ferraro discussing proposed voting maps | Claire Heddles, WJCT News
February 21, 2022

OPINION | What are you so afraid of?

The definition of democracy is “government by the people.” It’s “a form of government in which the supreme power is…