FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Samantha Dalaguit
Amy Task for House 22
amytraskforflorida.mediateam@gmail.com
Today is a heavy day.
Florida’s Constitution is unambiguous: we are not permitted to draw maps with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party, and yet, that is exactly what unfolded. The mapmaker ACKNOWLEDGED that partisan data was used. Leaked drafts showed districts shaded in partisan colors. The public saw it. Lawmakers saw it. And still, the Legislature pressed forward.
In the House, leadership allowed only thirty minutes of debate on a decision that will shape representation for millions of Floridians. Members debated fiercely, but the vote fell largely along party lines.
In the Senate, debate was rigorous – my word, if Senator Polsky and Senator Berman and Senators Davis and Jones didn’t remind the chamber of its profound Constitutional responsibilities they had as a co-equal branch of government and of the oaths they took– and members crossed party for the vote– and still, the map passed (21-17).
In both chambers, the pattern was painfully familiar. And just like so many of his other votes this session, I am really disappointed that Chad Johnson voted along party lines. He voted to dismantle the very constitutional guardrails meant to protect fair representation. Floridians deserve better than this.
And in the middle of it all, something happened that I can’t shake. It is profound and deeply disturbing.
A constituent in the House gallery objected loudly in desperation or anguish to what they were witnessing and, after it passed (83-28), that chamber erupted into cheers.
Members who supported the map looked toward the gallery and applauded – as if something sacred had been restored, as if the state had been made anew, as if breaking constitutional guardrails was a victory to celebrate.
The contrast between a constituent’s pain and the celebration on the floor said more than any speech could. We deserve to be seen, and represented, fairly. We do not deserve the cruelty that was displayed today.
This isn’t just a policy disagreement. It’s a constitutional one. And it’s a moral one.
When the guardrails voters put in place to protect fairness and equal voice are treated as optional, trust erodes. Faith in the process erodes. And the people who cry out- literally- are left wondering whether anyone in power is still listening.
What happened today is a vile and tragic shame. It was a profound breach of the public trust….but Floridians are paying attention. They’re organizing. They’re refusing to accept a future where constitutional protections are sidelined for political convenience. I stand with them. I stand with them because our democracy is strongest when every community’s voice is protected, not predetermined. We are strongest when we use our collective voices and stand together.
This November, choose leaders who will defend your voice, fight for you, honor their oaths, and refuse to be bullied or bought. Choose leaders who believe in a Constitutional Republic where the rules apply to everyone. Choose leaders who will fight for you.
Bring. The. Wave.