On a recent evening, community members waited in the pews of the New Generation Missionary Baptist Church in Opa-locka — but not for a regularly scheduled service. They were there for an emergency meeting about Florida’s congressional redistricting and its effects on Black representation.
The concerns stem from the decision last month by Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, to redraw a new voting map that favors Republicans over Democrats. Republicans already hold 20 of Florida’s 28 U.S. House seats. The new voting districts could improve the GOP’s chances to win four additional seats in the November elections.
DeSantis told Fox News that the map “more fairly represents the makeup of Florida today.”…