Florida judge recommends new congressional map

The plan Lewis forwarded to the high court, which on July 9 ordered eight districts redrawn, was proposed by a coalition of plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters, Common Cause and a few voters – mostly Democrats – under the 2010 “Fair Districts Florida” constiutional amendments. “CP-1 is essentially the House map, with changes focused on Districts 20, 26, and 27”, he said.

“We’re thrilled”, he said in a written statement.

“I therefore recommend its adoption”, he said.

Lewis agreed with the bulk majority of the state’s congressional map, leaving 20 of Florida’s 27 districts intact, the the way the state Legislature meant to craft the maps.

Lewis’ ruling also imperils other incumbents.

Lawmakers were handed an unprecedented set of directives in July when the Florida Supreme Court ruled the congressional boundaries used in the 2012 and 2014 elections were invalid because lawmakers had allowed improper interference by political operatives and created congressional districts that illegally favored incumbents and political parties. Even if Graham were to lose re-election, Democrats could pick up as many as an additional three seats under the map recommended by Lewis.

But one of the most dramatic changes would hurt Webster, who tried at the last minute to intervene in the ongoing lawsuit but was blocked by Lewis.

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said staffers took the utmost care as to not become involved in partisan dealings. “Justice depends on consistent standards”.

The Florida Supreme Court has given the Legislature and plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters, until October 27 to file responses to Lewis’ decision. Areas of southern Sarasota County, including Venice and North Port, would shift into the newly configured 17th Congressional District held by Rooney.

Lewis made his recommendation on Friday following a three-day trial, during which he sorted through seven different proposals. It is more heavily Republican than her current district. Two were in Tampa Bay.

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, who holds District 5, is filing a separate legal challenge in federal court.

Lewis’ ruling also could lead to the ouster of Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham from her north Florida seat while resurrecting the political career of former Gov. Charlie Crist, who is expected to run for Congress as a Democrat.

Graham, who is raising money for a 2016 campaign, said she’s “disappointed”, but still hopes the Florida Supreme Court will decline Lewis’ recommendation.

But Lewis noted that “he had no evidence” to conclude that the sprawling district could be drawn to be more compact “without adversely affecting minority voting rights”.

House Redistricting Committee chairman state Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami, who had wanted the court to accept the House map, responded to the news with a Tweet: “Court’s ruling declares different standard of intent for the Legislature than they do for themselves”. He is running for speaker of the U.S. House.

One of the districts the Supreme Court found issue with was District 5, a majority African-American district that previously twisted and turned from Jacksonville to Orlando, taking up black neighborhoods along the way. Lawyers for the coalition had argued that legislative proposals appeared aimed at helping Curbelo, a Republican. Their argument: The district is leaning Democratic and Democrats won’t elect an Hispanic.

He also rejected Florida worldwide University Professor Dario Moreno’s testimony that the district as proposed by the challengers will “lock out” Hispanic voters. “His testimony was long on pure opinion based on experience and short on systematic, scientific analysis of accepted statistical data”.

Lewis chastised the Legislature for attempting only one configuration of Districts 26 and 27 to comply with the requirement to keep Homestead whole. Petersburg, would see their districts lean to the opposite party. “And so until that’s all done, I think it would just be speculation”. “No matter whose congressional district you’re in, I’m honored to share my vision for the future with all South Floridians”.

Judge Lewis preferred the Florida House’s proposal to either of the drafts presented by the Senate.