Taylor County at the center of proposed new congressional district?

Posted on August 7, 2015

Although Florida’s second congressional district, which includes Taylor County, was not one of the eight found to be in violation of the state’s constitution by the Florida Supreme Court last month, the district could be radically changed during next week’s legislative special session based on the initial map released by the legislature Wednesday.

In its July 9 ruling, the Supreme Court found that the state’s congressional district map favored Republican candidates, violating the Fair Districts Amendment to the Florida Constitution. The map in question was passed last summer in response to an order by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry P. Lewis, who said the previous version approved in 2012 was also in violation of the constitution. While Judge Lewis, a Taylor County native, signed off on the current map, the Supreme Court ruled that the changes were not enough to bring the map into compliance.

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