Florida’s redistricting fight is an attack on Black and Brown political power

Valencia Gunder, May 12, 2026

Florida is once again at the center of a fight to protect democracy against deliberate efforts to diminish it. 

The new congressional redistricting map approved by Florida lawmakers goes beyond party politics. It is a clear attempt to weaken the political power of Black and Brown voters and is part of a larger effort to reduce the influence of communities that are vital to Florida’s identity and future.

This redistricting plan is unconstitutional. It threatens voting rights and takes away the political power that Black and Brown communities rely on to protect important resources and safeguards. This map is a direct attempt to take away our state's future by reducing these communities' influence.

Redistricting affects much more than just who represents us in Congress. It decides whose voices matter when choices are made about schools, housing, healthcare, disaster response, infrastructure, public safety and where money is invested. When district lines are drawn to weaken Black and Brown voting power, the impact goes far beyond elections. It affects our classrooms, neighborhoods, budgets, hospitals, housing policies and every area where political power shapes who is protected and who is left out.

For generations, Black and Brown communities have worked hard for fair representation in a state that has often tried to silence them. This map continues that pattern by splitting up communities and giving more power to state leaders instead of local voices.

Florida’s Constitution has Fair Districts protections to stop this kind of political manipulation. These rules ban maps that help or hurt a political party or incumbent, and they also ban districts that make it harder for racial or language minority communities to elect candidates they support. Any map that weakens Black and Brown voting power for political reasons goes against the purpose of these protections.

The process is important. Black and Brown communities should not have to fight for their political power in a redistricting process that lacks public review, transparency or real community input. Democracy only works when the people affected are truly listened to.

This fight is happening at a crucial time for our country. As voting rights protections weaken, state legislatures like Florida’s are changing political boundaries to silence communities of color. Florida’s map is not a one-time event but part of a plan to limit democracy and stop Black and Brown communities from turning their strength into real representation.

This is clearly a coordinated effort to take political power away from the people of Florida.

When Black and Brown voters are pushed aside, democracy as a whole suffers. Fair representation is both a constitutional and moral responsibility, not something to be traded away.

Florida belongs to the people who live, work, raise families and build communities here, and who fight every day for a future that includes everyone. We deserve a redistricting process that is open, follows the law and answers to voters — not one set up to decide election results in advance.

The Black Collective will keep organizing, speaking out and challenging efforts to silence our communities. We are committed to a Florida where Black and Brown voters are seen as central to the state’s future.

—

Valencia Gunder is the executive director of The Black Collective.

Source: The Miami Times