Court finds credible evidence that Florida Legislature racially gerrymandered Senate District 16, diluting Black voter power
TAMPA, FL (March 31, 2025) — In a significant victory for voting rights, a federal court has denied the State of Florida’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the racially gerrymandered boundaries of Florida Senate District 16. The court’s ruling allows the case to move forward to trial in June, given the compelling evidence that race predominated in the drawing of the district without sufficient justification—raising serious constitutional concerns under the Equal Protection Clause.
Filed by the ACLU of Florida and the Civil Rights & Racial Justice Clinic at New York University School of Law on behalf of Tampa and St. Petersburg residents, the lawsuit argues that Florida lawmakers intentionally packed Black voters into District 16—spanning both Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties across Tampa Bay without even a connecting bridge—in a move that diluted Black political influence in the region.
“This ruling is a victory for fair maps, for accountability, and for every voter whose voice was diluted by an unjust redistricting process,” said Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida. “Tampa Bay residents deserve districts that reflect their communities—not ones engineered to diminish their political power.”
In its decision, the court rejected the state’s argument that race-neutral criteria explained the unusual district shape. It pointed to direct statements from legislators about using race to guide the map-drawing process, as well as circumstantial evidence like the district’s split-county structure and disregard for traditional redistricting principles.
“The people of the Tampa Bay area spoke up, and the court is listening,” said Daniel Tilley, legal director for the ACLU of Florida. “We will continue to fight to ensure that no community is unfairly treated in redistricting.”
“We are heartened that the court recognizes the serious harms that racial gerrymandering inflicts on the Tampa area,” said David Chen, attorney and clinical professor with the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic. “We look forward to taking this case to trial to ensure every Floridian has the equal representation the Constitution guarantees them.”
While the court granted summary judgment on claims involving adjacent Senate District 18, the case will proceed to trial on the central claim that Senate District 16 was racially gerrymandered.
Read the court’s order here.
