Gov. DeSantis isn’t afraid of Hakeem Jeffries; Is anyone really?
By Easton Martin | April 23, 2026
Florida legislative leaders are preparing for a special session on April 28 to redraw the state’s congressional districts. Governor Ron DeSantis pointed to a population increase of over two million people as the primary reason for the new maps. Estimates suggest that the updated boundaries could result in as many as five additional seats for the Republican party. This move follows a narrow Democratic victory regarding redistricting rules in Virginia earlier this month.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to the Florida plan with a threat of “maximum warfare” against eight Republican incumbents. He described the redistricting effort as an “illegal scheme” similar to what he called a “dummymander” in Texas.
Jeffries thinks that the new maps will provide more pickup opportunities for his party in the next election cycle. He identified Mario Díaz-Balart and Anna Paulina Luna as two of the primary targets for defeat, among others.
Governor DeSantis appeared completely unfazed by the warnings and issued a sarcastic invitation to the Democratic leader. He suggested that Jeffries should come to Florida and campaign in person across the state, offering to host Jeffries at the executive mansion and even suggested taking him on a fishing trip.
DeSantis quipped that some refer to Jeffries as a “dollar store Obama” or “AIPAC Shakur”, due to his widely perceived nature of being a cheap political copy of Obama. DeSantis said that a visit from the House Minority Leader would actually serve as a benefit to Republican candidates.
