GOP Lawsuit Over Florida Census Figures Dismissed

Federal court rules challenge to 2020 census was filed too late

Feb. 3, 2026 at 11:15pm

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A federal court in Tampa has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Republican groups seeking to add two U.S. House seats in Florida by challenging the 2020 census figures. The court ruled that the lawsuit was filed too late, as the plaintiffs should have mounted their legal challenge within four years of the statistical methods being used to calculate the census. The 2020 census numbers have been a point of contention for Republicans, who allege the figures undercounted the state's population.

Why it matters

The outcome of this lawsuit could have had significant implications for the balance of power in Congress, as revised census numbers from a successful challenge could have been used to redraw Florida's congressional districts in a way that benefits the Republican Party ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in September 2025 by the Pinellas County Young Republicans, the University of South Florida College Republicans, and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Trump-backed Republican running for governor. The plaintiffs alleged that the statistical methods used to calculate the 2020 census undercounted Florida's population, costing the state two seats in Congress. However, the three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court in Tampa ruled that the plaintiffs should have filed their challenge within four years of the census methods being used, which occurred during the Trump administration's first term.

  • The 2020 census numbers were released in April 2021, during the Biden administration.
  • The lawsuit was filed in September 2025.

The players

Pinellas County Young Republicans

A Republican group in Pinellas County, Florida that was a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the 2020 census figures.

University of South Florida College Republicans

The college Republican organization at the University of South Florida, which was also a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds

A Republican congressman from Florida who was a plaintiff in the lawsuit and is currently running for governor.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judges gave the plaintiffs a chance to amend and refile their lawsuit, so it remains to be seen if they will pursue the case further.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political battles over the 2020 census figures, which have become a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats. The outcome could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress, underscoring the high stakes involved in these redistricting disputes.