TAMPA, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is questioning the accuracy of the latest U.S. census results, indicating he may push the state legislature to revise the congressional map in response. During a roundtable discussion focused on education Wednesday, DeSantis expressed his concerns about underrepresentation in the census, suggesting it could affect Florida’s political landscape.

The governor mentioned that discussions within the Trump administration had considered the possibility of conducting a new census before the decade concludes. If a redo were to happen, DeSantis believes it could lead to Florida gaining additional congressional seats. Currently, the state holds 20 seats in Congress for the Republican party, compared to eight for Democrats.

Typically, congressional and legislative maps are redrawn every ten years following the U.S. Census. The recent census, largely carried out during the Trump administration, saw results released under President Biden. Nevertheless, both political parties are already strategizing to reshape these maps in anticipation of the 2026 midterm election, aiming to secure a stronger foothold in the House of Representatives.

In Texas, similar efforts are underway, where Republicans have proposed a new congressional map that could add five more seats to their representation. Meanwhile, DeSantis believes Florida, too, was shortchanged in the latest census, which limited the state to only one additional seat, rather than the two he anticipated.

He recounted discussions with officials, saying he was informed during the latter part of Trump’s presidency that Florida might gain at least two seats based on population growth. The unexpected census results, he noted, were surprising and left him considering legal action, although he ultimately opted not to pursue it.

DeSantis also mentioned conversations with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, noting a mutual belief that the state’s population count was underestimated. He highlighted the prior administration’s attempts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census and how those efforts fell short due to legal challenges and pandemic delays affecting data collection.

“If a new census were to be carried out, it would not include illegal immigrants,” DeSantis stated, asserting his hopes that a revision would better reflect Florida’s actual population. “Even if that doesn’t occur, we are exploring options for redistricting within Florida to address these discrepancies.”

As the political climate intensifies ahead of the midterms, DeSantis’s push for a reevaluation of the census results underscores the broader national debate over representation and political power dynamics in the United States. Plans for redistricting are already in motion across various states, revealing a intricate chess game as both parties strive to maximize their electoral advantages.