Gaetz on Redistricting Ruling: 'Our Place isn’t to Argue with the Court'

Incoming Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has been leading redistricting in the Florida Senate and he weighed in on Friday afternoon on a state Supreme Court decision that found that eight of the 40 Senate seats his committee drew up did not pass constitutional muster.

The Supreme Courts decision today was not unexpected considering the questions and comments from the justices during the presentation of oral arguments, Gaetz said in a statement on Friday. While the Senate strongly believed that its entire redistricting plan complied with federal and state law, we are encouraged that the court found three-fourths of the Senate map to be legally valid. The court approved 32 of 40 districts and took issue with eight currently served by both Democratic and Republican senators.

We appreciate the courts acknowledgment of the Legislatures open and inclusive process of public input and bipartisan cooperation, added Gaetz. Our place isnt to argue with the court but to adopt a new map conforming to its judgment.