Democrats ridicule Florida's "DeSantis Dummymander"
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attends a conference in Miami, Florida on April 7, 2026. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Democrats unleashed fury on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican state legislators on Monday over a newly unveiled congressional map aimed at drawing out as many as four Democratic House members.
Why it matters: Party leadership is bullish that Republicans have overextended themselves and created an opening for Democrats to make gains in Florida if they perform strongly enough in November.
- "Florida is not going to make a meaningful difference as it relates to their efforts to rig the midterm elections," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
- CJ Warnke, a spokesperson for the Jeffries-aligned House Majority PAC, said in a statement to Axios that "Meatball Ron's Dummymander will not save Republicans," drawing on the derisive nickname President Trump gave DeSantis during the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
- Spokespeople for DeSantis did not respond to requests for comment.
Driving the news: DeSantis' office sent reporters a proposed new House map with 24 districts shaded red for Republicans and just four shaded blue for Democrats.
- If the districts swung the way the map suggests, it would represent a 50% loss in Democrats' total seat count in the state, which is currently eight.
- The map reduces Republicans' edge in some seats that are currently solid for the GOP, which some analysts said could backfire if Democrats have high enough turnout.
What they're saying: "What the DeSantis Dummymander might lead to is that ... based on our analysis of the map, there are anywhere between 3 and 5 additional seats that Democrats can pick up if we get a turnout that mirrors 2018 or 2020," Jeffries said Monday.
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) told Axios there is "no question" Democrats can hold onto some of the seats Republicans are targeting.
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee executive director Julie Merz said in a statement: "Republicans should be careful what they wish for."
- "We have consistently said Republicans will pick up seats in Florida. And we are confident we will do it without losing a single incumbent," National Republican Congressional Committee Spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole told Axios in a statement.
