Florida’s Republican-dominated state legislature has approved a new congressional map, the latest salvo in an unprecedented national battle of redistricting before the midterm elections in November.The vote in both the Florida state Senate and House on Wednesday comes just days after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled the new map, which heavily favours Republicans.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listCurrently, 20 Republicans and eight Democrats represent the state in the US House of Representatives. The new map puts Republicans on track to take 24 seats in the midterms, with four expected to go to Democrats.It is a significant shift in the run-up to the consequential election, in which Democrats are considered favoured to retake control of the US House of Representatives and are also pushing – in a longer shot attempt – to take control of the US Senate.A Democratic majority in either chamber of Congress would serve as a major check to US President Donald Trump in the final two years of his second term.Questions remain about whether the new map is legal under the Florida Constitution, with legal challenges expected.Some have also argued that redrawing the map may actually backfire on Republicans, diluting the party’s strongholds and tightening margins at a time when US President Donald Trump’s approval has dipped to an all-time low amid the economic knock-ons of the US-Israel war with Iran.Some have seen the victory of Democrat Emily Gregory in a race for a state legislative seat representing Palm …
