TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Senate passed bills to create a new Florida congressional map and redraw state Senate districts on Thursday with bipartisan support.

Only four Democrats opposed the congressional map, and three voted against the Senate districts.

The congressional map creates a new 28th district in central Florida that should favor Republicans. But most Democrats supported the plan.

“This process has been open and fair,” Democratic Sen. Linda Stewart said.

The state constitution requires that districts be compact, contiguous and drawn without benefitting a political party or candidate.

But the process is far from over. The House still needs to approve its version of the congressional map. The chamber’s current proposals appear to be more favorable to Republicans. If the House doesn’t accept the Senate map, the Senate will have to vote again.

In an unusual move, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has also submitted a proposal last weekend.

Florida’s population growth of 2.7 million new residents between 2010 and 2020 led to the new seat in the once-every-decade redistricting process.

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