Orange County Redistricting Committee Faces Crunch Time as Map Submission Deadline Looms

David Washington
Jun 20
4 min read

Orange County 2025 Redistricting Advisory Committee

*Original post from The Orlando Voice, https://t8020orlando.com/orange-county-redistricting-committee-faces-crunch-time-as-map-submission-deadline-looms/

The Orange County Mid-Decennial Redistricting Advisory Committee convened on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the Orange County Administration Center for what has become a familiar yet frustrating pattern: another proposed redistricting map was shot down by committee members, leaving the 15-member panel with precious little time to fulfill their mandate1 2.

With only weeks remaining before the July 3 deadline for map submissions, the committee finds itself in what member J. Gordon Spears aptly described as "crunch time"3. The urgency is palpable as the committee has thus far approved only one map for consideration out of multiple submissions, while the clock ticks toward their September 3 final recommendation deadline4 2.

The Challenge at Hand

The redistricting process stems from Orange County voters' November 2024 approval of a charter amendment expanding the Board of County Commissioners from six to eight districts51. This expansion requires redrawing existing boundaries and creating two entirely new districts, with each district needing to maintain approximately equal population distribution of around 188,000 residents5 6.

As committee co-chair Tico Perez noted during the meeting, "This is a tough process"6. The mathematical reality is stark: each of the current six districts must shed between 60,000 to 70,000 residents to accommodate the new eight-district structure4 6.

Current Map Submissions and Rejections

The June 18 meeting saw continued examination of the three maps submitted to date. Two maps were submitted by committee member David Washington on June 10 and 11, chosen by District 4 Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero, while a third map was submitted by Rishi Bagga on June 122. However, the meeting followed a now-familiar pattern of map rejection.

At the previous June 5 meeting, the committee overwhelmingly rejected a map submission by resident James Hunter, sponsored by Gordon Spears, in an 11-3 vote3. The Hunter map failed to pass legal review and raised concerns about minority representation in District 6, which encompasses Pine Hills, Orlovista, and Oak Ridge3.

Earlier in the process, the committee also rejected the Arias-1 map by a 13-2 vote, with concerns ranging from "jarring redistricting" to displacing Disney from District 16. Committee members criticized the map's shapes and sizes of several districts, despite its numerical soundness according to 2020 census data6.

Legal and Demographic Challenges

Orange County Assistant County Attorney Shonda White has been instrumental in ensuring submitted maps meet federal anti-discrimination requirements and legal standards3. The process must adhere to three critical criteria: equal population distribution, compliance with Federal Anti-Discrimination Law, and consideration of traditional redistricting principles including compactness, preservation of municipal boundaries, and maintaining communities of interest7 6.

The committee has heard repeatedly from residents about their primary concern: keeping communities of interest together4. This has proven particularly challenging given Orange County's rapid growth, with an estimated 1.5 million residents and continuing expansion2.

Community Impact and Representation

The redistricting process has generated significant community engagement, with residents from across Orange County attending meetings to voice concerns about how new boundaries might affect their representation8 7. Commissioner Mayra Uribe acknowledged both the benefits and challenges of the expansion, noting that while two new district commissioners will mean more accountability, effective representation ultimately depends on who residents elect2.

District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson has been critical of the timing, arguing that redistricting should occur during census years when population data is most current7. "My concern is the data they have is outdated ... from the 2020 census," Wilson stated7.

The Path Forward

As the July 3 submission deadline approaches, committee members face mounting pressure to produce viable alternatives. Gordon Spears emphasized the critical nature of the timeline, appealing both to fellow committee members and the public: "If you're going to submit, please, please, please submit," and "if you're working on a map, work on it sooner than later, and get it to one of us to sponsor it on your behalf"3.

The committee's work is complicated by the mathematical precision required in redistricting. As committee member Mark Arias noted during his map presentation, "Every time you touch the screen, the population explodes. We have to be able to do all this and still keep a 10% deviation"6.

Looking Ahead

The Orange County Commission must adopt the final redistricting plan by November 1, 2025, to be effective for the 2026 general election5 9. With nine planned meetings between May 7 and August 18, followed by the final September 3 adoption meeting, time is running short for the committee to fulfill its mandate4.

Co-chair Camille Evans remains optimistic about the process, telling residents, "It's heartwarming to be part of the conversation of how we're going to move forward"6. However, the committee's track record of map rejections suggests significant challenges lie ahead in reaching consensus on Orange County's political future.

The stakes are high for Orange County's nearly 1.5 million residents, who will live with the consequences of these boundary decisions for years to come2. As the committee continues its work, the question remains whether they can move beyond rejecting maps to actually approving the redistricting plan Orange County voters demanded.