Court rejects bid to throw out Florida congressional map

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Federal judges are rejecting a push by U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown to throw out the current boundaries for Florida’s congressional districts.

A three judge panel Monday ruled against the veteran congresswoman who argued the current map violates federal voting laws because it dilutes the voting rights of minorities.

The panel, however, found that Brown and her attorneys had not produced evidence to prove her case.

The decision could have immediate reverberations because the new map upends the state’s political landscape and could lead to the defeat of several incumbents. The current map was approved by the state Supreme Court after a lengthy political battle.

The new map, for example, puts U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, a Democrat, in a district that is heavily Republican. She has refused to make a decision on her political future because of the ongoing lawsuit.