Okeechobee and Glades County would share a district with Indian River and parts of Orlando in new proposed congressional map.
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OKEECHOBEE- Governor Ron DeSantis introduced a new congressional map for Florida on April 27, a day before the special session of the state legislature for the purpose of redistricting the state's congressional maps was set to begin.
The new map moves Okeechobee and Glades County from Florida’s 18th Congressional District to the 9th Congressional District. FL-18 is currently represented by Republican Scott Franklin, while FL-9 is represented by Democrat Darren Soto.
Okeechobee and Glades currently share a district with Polk, Highlands, DeSoto, Hardee, and Hendry. But the new proposed map would see Okeechobee and Glades grouped with Osceola, Indian River, Hendry, and parts of Orlando.
It would take over two hours to travel from the top of the district in Orange County to the bottom of the district in Glades County.
The current congressional maps give Republicans a 20-8 advantage over Democrats. Projections show that number that could change to 24-4 under the new map.
The proposed map passed the Florida House of Representatives on the morning of April 29 in an 83–28 vote and advanced to the Florida Senate, where it passed by a 21–17 vote.
