Notes
i With the research assistance of Damayra Figueroa-Lazu and Jorge Soldevila-Irizarry.
ii https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/apportionment/apportionment-2020-table01.pdf (downloaded on May 24, 2021).
iii Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution states: “Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, ….”
iv Section 2 of the Fourteenth amendment Amendment states: “Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.”
v The state’s total (apportionment) population was 18,900,773 in 2010. This total population was made up of its resident population (18,801,310 persons) and its overseas population (99,463 persons). Apportionment is calculated on the basis of the state’s total (apportionment) population. A 2010 resident population of 18,801,310, divided among 27 congressional districts, yielded districts with a population of approximately 696,345 persons per district. This total number of residents per congressional district is what the Census Bureau reports in some of its population products, such as in the estimates based on the American Community Survey used in this report.
vi The 2020 resident population of Florida was 21,538,187 persons; an additional 32,340 persons were overseas, but were included in the total population for apportionment purposes. A resident population of 21,538,187 divided among 28 congressional districts, will yield districts with a population of approximately 769,221 persons per district. Statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau at the congressional district level are likely then to show a per-district population of approximately 769,221 persons.
vii From a numerical perspective, districts with fewer residents are thought of as having greater political power, as it takes fewer voters to elect a representative that has the same voting power in the legislature as residents of districts with more residents. Adherence to the one-person, one-vote principle [Reynold v. Sims (1964); Baker v. Carr (1962)] prevents deviation from numerical equality in population for congressional districts [Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)].
viii Redistricting is a process that takes place in all legislative bodies that divide political representation in geographically defined districts, such as state legislatures as well as municipal councils.
ix See https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/statement-redistricting-data-timeline.html, downloaded on May 24, 2021.
x As indicated in notes v and vi, the population figures used for apportioning the number of representatives in the U.S. House of represetatives nationwide are based on the combination of the resident population of a state and the overseas population that claims residence in that state. This is the apportionment population reported in Table 1. However, the population figures used for redistricting purposes within a state is based on the state’s resident population.
xi The counties along I-4 courses are Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia. It crosses Florida from Tampa in the west to near Daytona Beach in the northeast of the state. Hillsborough (19%), Polk (20%), Osceola (45%), and Orange (24%) counties were among the 15 fastest growing counties in the state. Adjacent to these counties along I-4 are also the fastest-growing counties, such as Sumter (39%), Manatee (24%), Lake (29%), Flagler (21%), Pasco (21%), and Indian River (16%).
xii Pasco and Duval counties also grew by about 100,000 persons.
xiii Holmes, Hamilton, Union, Jefferson, Calhoun, Madison, Lafayette, Gadsden, Taylor, Jackson, and Gulf counties.
xiv DeSoto, Hardee, Glades, Okeechobee counties.
xv Madison, DeSoto, Hardee,Lafayette, Calhoun and Gulf counties.
xvi The Census Bureau has not released detailed 2020 population for Hispanic subgroups at the congressional district level as of the date of this analysis. We therefore rely on data from the American Community Surveys for 2010 and 2019. This Census Bureau product shows a statewide population growth of 14%.
xvii From a slightly different angle, those of Caribbean origin represent more than 53% of Hispanics, South Americans represent 18.2%, Central Americans represent nearly 11%, and North Americans (i.e., Mexican) represent 13%.
xviii DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Okeechobee, Putnam, and Walton.
xix Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Collier, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Highlands, Holmes, Indian, Jackson, Lee, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Martin, Nassau, Okaloosa, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, and Taylor.
xx Flagler, Hernando, Osceola, and Volusia.
xxi Alachua, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lake, Marion, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Seminole, Union, Wakulla, and Washington.
xxii Mexicans were the largest Hispanic group in 21 counties (60%) in which the Hispanic population was less than 9.5%, and in 14 counties (40%) they were the largest Hispanic group in 14 counties (40%) in which the Hispanic population was greater than 9.5%. Puerto Ricans were the largest Hispanic group in 8 eight counties (32%) in which Hispanics represented less than 9.5% of the county’s population, and they were the largest Hispanic group in 17 counties (68%) in which Hispanics represented more than 9.5% of the county’s population.
xxiii The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th , and 15th districts.
xxiv The 1st, 2nd, 16th, 17th, 18th , and 19th districts.
xxv CVAP data for the Hispanic national origin group are from the 2015, 5-year estimate of the American Community Survey, the most recent year for which such detailed data are available. CVAP has been calculated based on data from Table B05003 (sex by age by nativity and citizenship statusSex by Age by Nativity and Citizenship Status), from the 2015 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates for Selected Population.
xxvi In fact, race and ethnicity cannot be sole or leading factors factor in drawing legislative districts. Race and ethnicity may nevertheless be criteria to use in redistricting, albeit subject to administrative and judicial scrutiny, which must adhere to a number of guidelines, such as the Gingles factors and the Senate Report factors.
xxvii Collier, Hardee, Hendry, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, and Union counties.
xxviii Broward, DeSoto, Glades, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Seminole counties.
xxix Broward, Hillsborough and Palm Beach.
xxx Hardee, Hendry and Miami-Dade.