{"id":2607439,"date":"2026-05-27T14:03:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-hands-russia-hoaxer-marc-elias-major-loss-by-upholding-floridas-new-congressional-map\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T14:05:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:05:31","slug":"judge-hands-russia-hoaxer-marc-elias-major-loss-by-upholding-floridas-new-congressional-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-hands-russia-hoaxer-marc-elias-major-loss-by-upholding-floridas-new-congressional-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge Hands Marc Elias Major Loss In Challenge To Florida&#8217;s Map"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-hands-russia-hoaxer-marc-elias-major-loss-by-upholding-floridas-new-congressional-map%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2607439&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Marc Elias adn the Elias Law Group suffered another setback in Florida when a state circuit judge denied their request to block the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >newly enacted 2026 congressional district map<\/a>. The judge, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, refused a preliminary injunction on the grounds that the challengers had not presented enough evidence at this stage to justify overriding the Legislature\u2019s 2026 map based on their allegations of unconstitutional racial intent. The court suggested that if plaintiffs ultimately win, the appropriate remedy would be for the Legislature to redraw the map rather than for the court to impose a specific alternative plan.  <\/p>\n<p>The ruling also emphasized timing and practical election considerations, noting that Florida\u2019s election calendar is already underway and that changing maps now would conflict with the public interest in election certainty. Plaintiffs reportedly plan to appeal.  <\/p>\n<p>The article places this decision within a broader pattern of legal losses for Elias, citing earlier defeats in other states and referencing related disputes over election administration and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-doj-deploys-feds-wherever-gop-poll-watchers-could-disrupt-dems-election-rigging-schemes\/\" title=\"Biden...s DOJ Deploys Feds Wherever GOP Poll Watchers Could Disrupt Dems... Election-Rigging Schemes\">voting-related laws<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>No matter how hard he tries, leftist lawyer Marc Elias can\u2019t seem to stop losing in court.<\/p>\n<p>The infamous <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/marc-elias\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Russia collusion hoaxer<\/a> faced yet another legal humiliation on Tuesday when a Florida judge shot down his <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.md\/rQZPB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">effort<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/top-dem-legal-boogeymen-tee-up-battle-royale-red-states-redistricting-crusade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">block<\/a> the Sunshine State\u2019s new congressional map. <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/04\/another-racial-gerrymander-bites-the-dust-desantis-approves-new-florida-map-ahead-of-midterms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Signed<\/a> into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this month, the redistricted map looks to swing four U.S. House seats in Republicans\u2019 favor during the upcoming 2026 midterms.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce again, we beat Marc Elias. Florida\u2019s new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-judge-upholds-new-gop-congressional-map\/\" title=\"... ... upholds new GOP ...\">congressional district maps stand<\/a>,\u201d Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGJamesUthmeier\/status\/2059361096952148086?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote<\/a> on X. <\/p>\n<p>While not ruling on the merits of the case, state Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes, a DeSantis appointee, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-26-Order-on-motions-for-preliminary-injunction.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a> the Elias Law Group\u2019s and other challengers\u2019 \u201cextraordinary and drastic\u201d request to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the new map from going into effect. <\/p>\n<p>The circuit judge notably determined that plaintiffs\u2019 \u201cevidence at this stage is insufficient to support the permissibility of this Court forcing the [state\u2019s] 2022 map onto the electorate in contravention of the duly enacted 2026 map.\u201d Should plaintiffs \u201cprevail,\u201d he wrote, \u201cit seems the proper remedy is not for the Court to order a particular map, but for it to order the Legislature to redraw the map in a constitutional manner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That determination followed Hawkes\u2019 analysis that Florida\u2019s executive and legislative branches moved to redraw the map in \u201canticipation\u201d of the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s <em>Louisiana v. Callais<\/em> decision, which <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/04\/29\/supreme-court-smacks-down-rampant-race-based-gerrymandering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">kneecapped<\/a> states\u2019 ability to engage in race-based redistricting. He observed that the \u201cevidence\u201d presented by Elias and Co. \u201cfocuses on challenging the constitutionality of the 2026 map, but does not sufficiently challenge the political branches\u2019 finding that CD-20 in the 2022 map was drawn with impermissible racial intent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would seem presumptive on a limited evidentiary record and rushed proceedings to overturn both the Legislature\u2019s 2026 map while also overturning their finding that the 2022 map is unconstitutional,\u201d Hawkes wrote. \u201cThis is especially so where, if the Legislature and the Governor are correct that the 2022 map has racial classifications, Plaintiffs would have to provide this Court with sufficient evidence under strict scrutiny to justify the Court ordering its use again.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The DeSantis appointee went on to explain the traditional factors judges take into account when deciding whether to grant a party\u2019s request for a temporary injunction. He notably found that \u201cthere is insufficient evidence\u201d to show that challengers enjoy a \u201csubstantial likelihood of success on the merits\u201d of their claims, and that \u201cthe balance of hardships and the public interest weigh heavily against the issuance of an injunction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe election machinery of the state is already underway. \u2026 Similar to the town election in <em>Walker v. Best<\/em>, it is more difficult for the much larger ship of statewide elections to change directions at this juncture,\u201d Hawkes wrote. \u201cThe primary is less than three months away, and the general less than six months. The public interest weighs more in favor of certainty than a haphazard judicial mandate of discarded maps.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Plaintiffs <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DemocracyDocket\/status\/2059377847093940532?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reportedly<\/a> plan to appeal the ruling. <\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s decision is the latest in a string of legal defeats for Elias, who boasts a long history of waging legal warfare against common-sense election laws and related measures.<\/p>\n<p>Despite his group\u2019s best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/soros-helps-spreadhead-anti-election-integrity-efforts-ahead-of-midterms\/\" title=\"Soros Helps Spreadhead Anti-Election Integrity Efforts Ahead of Midterms\">anti-election integrity efforts<\/a>, the GOP and North Carolina election officials inked an agreement last week that stipulates the latter must follow state law by doing \u201cmore to keep noncitizens off the state\u2019s voter rolls,\u201d as The Federalist\u2019s Matt Kittle <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/26\/gop-secures-agreement-from-north-carolina-election-officials-to-clean-up-voter-rolls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>. The consent judgment came weeks after a Louisiana court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.klfy.com\/louisiana\/louisiana-elections-on-hold-until-new-maps-are-approved\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rejected<\/a> the Elias Law Group\u2019s attempt to force the Pelican State to hold elections under its unconstitutional congressional map.<\/p>\n<p>Elias endured yet <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/04\/01\/judges-toss-dems-attempt-to-redraw-wisconsins-congressional-maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">another loss<\/a> in late March when a Wisconsin court denied his organization\u2019s bid to nuke the state\u2019s current congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms. Had the court ruled in his favor, it would have cleared the way for the drawing of a new map that would be friendlier to Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>The Russia collusion hoaxer also saw a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4074943\/rough-year-court-marc-elias\/?utm_social_post_id=636765721&#038;utm_social_handle_id=18956073\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">series of losses<\/a> in the year prior, in which his legal challenges to <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/07\/22\/judge-tosses-russia-hoaxer-marc-elias-suit-against-wyomings-proof-of-citizenship-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wyoming\u2019s proof-of-citizenship law<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/07\/01\/russia-hoaxer-marc-elias-loses-bid-to-allow-foreign-interference-in-kansas-ballot-issues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kansas\u2019 ban<\/a> on foreign funding of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-seeks-to-uphold-ban-on-foreign-money-in-ballot-campaigns\/\" title=\"Ohio Seeks To Uphold Ban On Foreign Money In Ballot Campaigns\">state ballot initiative campaigns<\/a> went down in flames.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He is a co-recipient of the 2025 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics and RealClearHealth. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Marc Elias keeps losing in court, including a Tuesday ruling that blocks his bid to halt Florida\u2019s new congressional map<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2607440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Marc-Elias.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33739,37612,16985,32570],"class_list":["post-2607439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-election-law","tag-legal-challenge","tag-redistricting","tag-voting-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Marc-Elias.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2607439"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607443,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607439\/revisions\/2607443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2607439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2607439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2607439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}