The Republican governor Ron DeSantis once again questioned the 2020 census and proposed redistricting in his state ahead of the 2026 legislative elections, suggesting that the population growth was not accurately reflected.
During an event in Tampa this Wednesday, he stated that Florida should have more representation in Congress, as he believes that the 2020 census underestimated the state's actual growth.
The statements were collected by the specialized outlet Florida Politics, which reported the details of the meeting at the Hillsborough Academy of Math and Science.
DeSantis denounced what he described as "malapportionment"—an imbalance in representation—resulting from a count that was halted in April 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning.
According to him, some officials from the Trump administration told him that if the census had been conducted properly, Florida would have gained between three and five additional seats in the House of Representatives.
Although he did not present any technical analysis to support that claim, DeSantis reiterated that his administration is exploring legal and legislative avenues to promote a new redistricting, even without a new census, and that he would view "favorably" any efforts from the state Congress in that direction.
The governor also accused the so-called "blue states" —with a Democratic majority— of having artificially inflated their population by including undocumented immigrants in the census count, something that he stated is "unconstitutional."
"I was not going to use taxpayers' money for that," he stated, referring to his refusal to fund similar processes in Florida.
At another time, DeSantis suggested that this discrepancy in national representation could potentially alter the balance of the Electoral College in 2024.
He said that if the supposed error had not been corrected, Kamala Harris could have won with just three states from the so-called "Rust Belt," which, in his opinion, would have caused a "constitutional crisis" because "with an accurate census, Trump would have won anyway, even losing those states."
He also quoted the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, who —according to DeSantis— shares the belief that "the census was flawed" and that Florida did not receive the seats it was entitled to.
The statements come as Texas moves forward with a redistricting plan that would benefit Republicans, while California and New York are evaluating similar measures but in the opposite direction, to protect their own political interests.
DeSantis's proposals open the door to a scenario of institutional and political conflict by breaking with the traditional framework of decennial censuses.
If it succeeds in its intention, Florida could become the first state to redraw districts without waiting for the 2030 census, setting a high-stakes precedent in the national battle for legislative control.
Frequently asked questions about DeSantis's accusations regarding the census and immigration
Why does Ron DeSantis criticize the 2020 census?
Ron DeSantis criticizes the 2020 census because he believes it underestimated Florida's population growth, which, according to him, resulted in less representation for the state in Congress. He claims that, if it had been conducted properly, Florida would have gained between three and five additional seats in the House of Representatives.
How does DeSantis's stance on the census affect Florida's representation?
DeSantis suggests that the discrepancy in the census count could have altered the balance in the Electoral College and that Florida should have more representation in Congress. He proposes exploring legal and legislative avenues to redistrict, even without waiting for the 2030 census.
What measures does DeSantis propose regarding immigration in Florida?
DeSantis has signed a package of laws to combat illegal immigration, which includes cooperation between state agencies and ICE to identify and detain undocumented immigrants. Additionally, he does not rule out requiring proof of citizenship to purchase lottery tickets or alcoholic beverages, and has allocated funds to strengthen deportation operations.
What accusations has DeSantis made against Democratic states regarding the census?
DeSantis accuses Democratic states of inflating their population by including undocumented immigrants in the census, which he describes as "unconstitutional." He argues that these actions have affected fair representation in Congress and the national electoral balance.
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