Drawing the Line - Action Alert, August 11, 2025

“When you can’t win fairly, you cheat, and that is exactly what this is.”

Roman Palomares, the national president of LULAC, a nonpartisan Latino rights group

Florida Joins the GOP Effort To Rig the Next Election

Last week, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced the creation of a Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting, kowtowing to calls by Gov. DeSantis and Trump

to carve out even more GOP-safe districts in key states before the 2026 midterms. The process of drawing Congressional districts normally occurs after the decennial census. This unprecedented move could add three additional GOP members to the state's already lopsided delegation, where Republicans currently hold 71% of the seats (20 of 28), despite Trump winning only 56% of the vote in 2024.

“Trump and Congressional Republicans know they’re on track to lose the House in 2026. They just voted to strip food and health care from working families to bankroll tax cuts for their billionaire donors – and they know they can’t defend that at the ballot box," stated FL Congressmember Maxwell Frost.

Democrats, meanwhile, are threatening to retaliate with counter-redistricting in Blue States, potentially abandoning decades of work to advance fair districts.

The action by Florida leaders comes on the heels of efforts in Texas to draw new district lines that shift eight seats into the GOP column, and recent rulings by the FL Supreme Court that significantly weaken the Fair District amendments approved by voters in 2010. The court recently upheld the election map drawn by DeSantis, which effectively eliminated a minority district. 

Doubling down, Trump is also demanding that the Commerce Department conduct a “new” national census to exclude all individuals who are not legal citizens --- a blatantly unconstitutional effort to further manipulate population data used to draw up electoral districts.

Here's how you can act to stop these threats to voting and our democracy:

• Say NO to census manipulation and YES to fair representation by sending this email created by Equal Ground to state lawmakers. Tell them we won't stand for a power grab disguised as political reform!

• Tell Congress to protect the census! Use this script from 5 Calls and contact Rep. John Rutherford (904-831-5205), and Sens. Rick Scott (904-479-7227) and Ashley Moody (904-354-4300) today!

• If you think gerrymandering is wrong -- regardless of which party does it -- learn more about the recently reintroduced Fair Representation Act (HR 4632)  and strategies for ensuring all voters are represented in government. If you agree this is the direction we should be heading, urge Rep. Rutherford (904-831-5205) to support this bill.

• Find out more about proposed state redistricting by joining State Voices Florida's monthly virtual training on Wednesday, August 13th at 2:00 p.m. featuring Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground. Learn about the fundamentals of redistricting, as well as recent developments in the state, and get actionable steps for advocacy. Register for the zoom link here.

• Get involved in Fight the Trump Takeover, a national day of action on Saturday, August 16th at 10 a.m. RSVP here and get details on local activities, organized by State Rep. Angie Nixon, to call attention to Trump's efforts to deliberately steal the 2026 election by rigging electoral maps to gain GOP seats.

  

  
  

  Jax City Council Committee Targets Mayor's Budget Priorities

  Those of us lucky enough to live here in Jacksonville can celebrate one bright spot in the prevailing challenge of our state & national politics: the unifying, sane, smart leadership of our Mayor, Donna Deegan.  If you've not already seen the Mayor's proposed budget for next year, it is, as she stated, "not just balanced, it is urgent. It’s not just disciplined, it’s bold." So, of course, it is already under attack.

  
  

  Vowing to cut Jacksonville's property taxes -- already the lowest among major cities in the state -- the City Council Finance Committee last week began its review of the Mayor's budget by axing funding for several of her priorities, including housing, health care, litter control, and selected stadium-related projects. Council member Ju'Coby Pittman, the only Democrat on the committee, was the lone vote against the cuts. Deegan called the effort "performative" as it coincided with a visit by the state Chief Financial Officer and his state DOGE auditors. Budget hearings are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m. for the next two weeks, and additional cuts are expected. Voice your support for the Mayor's proposed budget and call out Finance Committee members for their antics by using this cut & paste email.

Celebrate 105 Years of Women's Suffrage!

Get your ticket TODAY for the League of Women Voters - First Coast Luncheon on Sunday, August 17th at 11 a.m., celebrating the 105th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote! The event, at the UNF Adam Herbert Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, will feature guest speaker Jessica Lowe-Minor, newly elected state LWV president, as well as displays on the history of the women's suffrage movement. The luncheon is open to the public. Tickets are $35. RSVP here to meet the deadline TODAY.

Indivisible Leaders To Discuss State Strategy

Join FL Indivisibles for a conversation with national leaders Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg on Monday, August 18, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. The two co-founders and co-executive directors will respond to questions submitted by members across the state. Following the session, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. you are invited to stay on the call for a facilitated discussion of state strategies for pushing back on the Trump/DeSantis/MAGA agenda. RSVP for the ZOOM call here.

Order Your BAM T-Shirt Now!

New BAM t-shirts are here! Email us and we'll send you information on sizes, payment options, and pickup. What better way to show your support for the movement and to let people know progressives are alive and well, and RESISTING at the Beach.  Get yours for a donation of $25.