Senate Releases Staff Descriptions of Congressional Districts

The Florida Senate staff has released district descriptions for the proposed redrawn and two additional congressional lines.

The House is expected to release its draft of the district lines on Dec. 6.

District 1

Includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and western Holmes County. The Legislature received several submissions that proposed a district with a similar orientation in the Panhandle.

District 2

Includes the counties in the Capitol Region between the Gulf of Mexico and the Georgia state line from Bay County in the west to Taylor County in the east (including Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, Washington counties, the portion of Holmes County not in District 1, and a portion of Madison County required for equalizing population).

District 3

Preserves the core of an existing minority-opportunity district that has consistently elected an African-American member of Congress since 1992. This district includes portions of Jacksonville, Green Cove Springs, Gainesville, Sanford, Apopka, and Orlando. The committee received testimony in support of keeping a minority district in this area. The black voting-age population is 50 percent and the Hispanic voting-age population is 11 percent.

District 4

Is in the northeast corner of the state. It includes all of Baker, Nassau, and Duval counties, except the portions of Duval in District 3. Its boundaries follow the state boundary on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and county boundaries on the south and west. In Jacksonville, the committee heard public testimony requesting that Nassau County not be subdivided into multiple districts and that Baker County not be subdivided into multiple districts.

District 5

Includes Hernando and Pasco Counties in their entirety and a portion of northwest Polk County connected along U.S. Highway 98, as required for equalizing population. It follows the Gulf of Mexico on the west and county boundaries on the north and south. At public hearings, residents of Pasco and Hernando counties testified that they shared business and social interests. Neighboring northwestern Polk County is also rural and agricultural. The Suncoast Parkway and Interstate 75, as well as U.S. Highways 19 and 98, facilitate travel.

District 6

Consists of the Suwannee River region, from Cedar Key to the Georgia state line. It includes the following whole counties: Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, and Union, plus the portion of Madison County not in District 2, the portions of Alachua and Clay counties not in minority District 3, and the portion of Marion County required for equalizing population (generally west of Interstate 75, the Ocala city line, and State Road 200). This district combines similar agricultural and rural interests in the northern part of the state, and is intersected by Interstates 10 and 75.

District 7

Includes territory east of minority District 3 and along the coast in northeast Florida. It is bounded on the north by the St. Johns county line, on the south by the Volusia county line, and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. On the west, it includes the portion of Putnam County not in minority District 3, and it follows the St. Johns River, the Volusia county line, and the DeLand, Lake Helen, and Deltona city lines. District 7 includes all of St. Johns and Flagler counties plus most of Volusia and Putnam counties. It combines similar communities in St. Augustine, Palm Coast, and Daytona Beach along Interstate 95, which crosses the district from north to south.

District 8

Includes the portions of Orlando plus southern and western Orange County that are not in the two minority-opportunity districts (Districts 3 and 27). The cities of Bay Lake, Lake Buena Vista, Oakland, Ocoee, Windermere, and Winter Garden are wholly in the district. District 8 also includes Clermont, Monteverde, and other portions of Lake County, as well as Auburndale, Lake Alfred, Polk City and most of Lakeland and Winter Haven in Polk County. These communities are tied together by Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike.

District 9

Includes northern and eastern Hillsborough County (including North Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and Brando), plus Tarpon Springs and adjacent neighborhoods in northern Pinellas County.

District 10

Includes most of Pinellas County and is located entirely within the county. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and on the east by Tampa Bay. On the north, it follows the northern outskirts of Dunedin, Clearwater, and Oldsmar. On the south, it is adjacent to minority access District 11. The district includes in their entirety most of the municipalities of Pinellas County.

District 11

Combines similar communities in downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg, as well as urban areas of Bradenton. In general, its boundaries follow Interstate 75 on the east and Tampa Bay and Interstate 275 on the west. It ties together urban neighborhoods in the Tampa Bay area and gives access to minority voters. The district has a black voting-age population of 25.8 percent and a Hispanic voting-age population of 24.8 percent.

District 12

Is a mostly rural district centered on the interior of the state between Central Florida and Lake Okeechobee, and includes most of Charlotte County. The district boundary follows portions of the boundaries of Hillsborough, Hardee, Desoto, Charlotte, Lee, Glades, Okeechobee, and Polk counties. In Polk County, it is adjacent to minority-access District 27. It includes four whole counties (Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, and Glades counties).

District 13

Includes all of Sarasota and Manatee counties (with the exception of urban areas in Bradenton), and the northwest corner of Charlotte County for equalizing population. The district is geographically concentrated. Interstate 75 promotes convenient travel through the district. The district ties the coastal communities in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and North Port. It is bounded by county lines on the east and most of its northern and southern boundaries, and by the Gulf of Mexico on the west.

District 14

Consists of portions of Collier and Lee counties, including Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, Naples, and Marco Island. The northern boundary is the Lee County line and the southern boundary is the Collier County line. The district is adjacent on the east to a minority-majority district covered by Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act.

District 15

Combines Brevard and Indian River counties with a portion of eastern Orange County. Its boundary follows county lines with the exception of the portion of the
districts western boundary in Orange County. The district combines similar interests along the Space and Treasure coasts and is crossed by Interstate 95, U.S. Highway 1, and State Road A1A from north to south.

District 16

Includes all of St. Lucie and Martin counties and northeast Palm Beach and southeast Okeechobee counties. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and by county boundaries along its northern and parts of its western and southern boundaries. The district is closely united in territory and is connected from north to south by Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike. At the Stuart hearing, residents of northern Palm Beach County and Martin County testified to their desire to be in the same district due to their common interests along the Treasure Coast. The district eliminates the division of Martin and St. Lucie counties and the way that current District 16 stretches from Charlotte Harbor on the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic.

District 17

Preserves the core of an existing majority-minority district that has elected an African-American member of Congress since 1992. It consists of urban neighborhoods in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. It follows U.S. Highway 1 and Biscayne Bay along much of its eastern boundary, and is traversed from north to south by Interstate 95. The district has a black voting-age population of 56.3 percent and Hispanic voting-age population of 31.9 percent.

District 18

Consists of Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade County. The district follows the boundary of Monroe County and extends into the coastal portion of Miami-Dade County. It follows the Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, and Homestead city lines for portions of its boundary. The district preserves the core of an existing majority-Hispanic district that has elected a Hispanic member of Congress since 1988. This district has a Hispanic voting-age population of 70 percent.

District 19

Consists of the western portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Most of its boundary is adjacent to a majority-minority district covered by Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act. In Palm Beach County, the district is bounded on the west by the L-40 Canal, which separates the populated areas to the east from the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge to the west. On the north, it is bounded by State Road 80 (Southern Boulevard) and the municipal boundary of Wellington. State Road 809 (Military Trail) and the Florida Turnpike comprise most of its eastern boundary. In Broward County, the district follows the western boundary of Parkland and the western and southern boundaries of Coral Springs. The district ties similar communities and is connected from north to south by the Florida Turnpike and U.S. Highway 441.

District 20

Consists of southern Broward and coastal Broward and Miami-Dade counties, including the cities of Weston, Davie, Dania Beach, Cooper City, and Miami Beach, and most of Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, and Southwest Ranches. The district is bounded on the north chiefly by Interstate 595, and is connected along the coast by State Road A1A. To the south and west, it is adjacent to majority-minority districts covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

District 21

Includes parts of southwest Broward and northwest Miami-Dade counties, plus the portion of Collier County in the majority Hispanic district covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, and the portion of Hendry County not in minority District 23. Currently, Hispanic voters in Collier County share a district with Miami-Dade County that has elected a Hispanic incumbent since 1992. The Hispanic voting-age population of District 21 is 71.5 percent.

District 22

Consists of the Palm Beach and Broward County coast. On the west, District 22 is adjacent to a minority-opportunity district (District 23). On the east it is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Similar coastal interests, as well as Interstate 95 and State Road A1A, tie the communities in District 22.

District 23

Preserves the core of an existing district that has elected an African-American member to Congress since 1992 and is covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The district contains portions of Hendry, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Its northern boundary follows the Hendry and Palm Beach County lines, and its southern boundary follows the Hendry County line and Interstate 75. On the east, the district ties urban neighborhoods between U.S. Highway 1 and Interstate 95. The district has a black voting-age population of 51.8 percent.

District 24

Includes communities north of Orlando in Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties. It follows the boundary of Seminole County along much of its western and southern boundaries, where it is adjacent to two minority-opportunity districts (Districts 3 and 27). On the east, it follows the boundary of Volusia County, while on the north it encircles Deltona, DeBary, Lake Helen, and Orange City. District 24 generally follows municipal boundaries. Sanford is divided between District 24 and minority District 3. Communities in the district, such as Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Longwood, and Lake Mary, are connected by the Seminole Expressway and Interstate 4.

District 25

Consists of western Miami-Dade County, including the cities of Homestead and Florida City. It is bounded by the Miami-Dade County line on the north, west, and south, and by portions of the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike and the municipal boundaries of Homestead, Cutler Bay, and Palmetto Bay on the east. This district preserves the core of an existing majority-Hispanic district that has elected a Hispanic member of Congress since 2002. The communities that comprise the district share common interests and a common culture and language. District 25 has a Hispanic voting-age population of 74.1 percent.

District 26

Includes Citrus and Sumter County and portions of Lake and Marion counties. The district combines Central Florida communities connected by Interstate 75, the Florida Turnpike, and State Road 44. It follows the boundaries of Citrus and Sumter counties in the northwest and southwest, and Interstate 75 and the Ocala city line in the northwest. It includes Ocala, The Villages, Crystal River, and the municipalities of central Lake County.

District 27

Includes all of Osceola County and similar communities in Orange and Polk counties, including southeast Orlando and parts of Haines City and Lake Wales. At the Central Florida hearings, representatives from Hispanic advocacy groups testified to the commonality of culture, business, language, and media in Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties that would lend itself to the creation of a congressional district with a significant Hispanic population. District 24 has a Hispanic voting-age population of 40.2 percent.