Red state gov's bid to get in Trump's good graces doomed to backfire on GOP: strategist

Recruiting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to gerrymander his state as a counterattack to the Democratic redistricting victory in Virginia could backfire, a political consultant warned Thursday, as the GOP looks to punch back.

“We have already compacted Democrats into such tight districts, the only thing you can do when you are redrawing is cut them out of there,” said Florida political strategist Alex Alvarado told Politico in a Thursday article.

“You have to place those Democratic voters somewhere.”

The redistricting map that Virginia voters passed on Tuesday opens up four House seats for Democrats to win in November. Florida-based GOP strategist Ford O’Connell told Politico that “this is honestly an all-hands-on-deck moment, because if you lose the House, you’re going to bring, essentially, the agenda to a grinding halt."

O'Connell said that "all eyes are on Ron DeSantis and Florida now" as he expects the GOP governor to "take the gloves off like Democrats did in Virginia and California and draw as many districts as you can, legally, for Republicans.” The report said DeSantis may try the gambit to score a spot in President Donald Trump's administration.

Alvarado warned that "you have to place those Democratic voters somewhere."

Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, is similarly doubtful about the plan, saying “I don’t think you’re gonna create deep-blood-red seats all over the state,” he said. “I think we just have to wait and see what the Legislature produces.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Wednesday that Democrats will “finish” the redistricting war in Florida.

“Our message to Florida Republicans is ‘F’ around and find out,” Jeffries said. DeSantis responded during a bill signing in Florida that welcomed the challenge and a Democrat-led redistricting campaign, “I will pay for you to come down to Florida and campaign.”