Florida Redistricting Challenge (Cubanos Pa’Lante)

Lawsuit filed by Cubanos Pa’Lante, Engage Miami, the American Civil Liberties Union Club at Florida International University (FIU ACLU Club) and five Southern Florida residents against Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd (R) and the Florida House of Representatives challenging three congressional districts and seven state House districts in South Florida. The plaintiffs argue that the challenged districts unnecessarily split established communities like the city of Miami and Collier County, connect disparate neighborhoods and create non-compact shapes that are racially gerrymandered. The plaintiffs allege that House Redistricting Committee Chair Rep. Tom Leek (R) admitted that the map is not race neutral and that the state Legislature drew the challenged districts based on race. The plaintiffs claim that the Legislature treated South Florida’s Hispanic and Latino communities as a politically cohesive group and intentionally sorted districts by race as a result. The plaintiffs argue these districts violate the 14th Amendment and ask the court to declare the map unconstitutional and order a new map. 

On Feb. 14, 2025, the court granted and denied in part the defendants’ motions to dismiss. Litigation will continue against the 26th Congressional District and seven state House districts.

STATUS: On Nov. 21, 2025, the district court granted legislative defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to state house districts 112-114, and 116, but denied the motion as to state house districts 115, 118-119, and congressional district 26.

On Jan 12, 2026 a trial took place on plaintiffs’ racial gerrymander claims pertaining to state house districts 115, 118-119, and congressional district 26.

Last updated: January 12, 2026 11:31 am EST