Top Republican to testify about Florida political map

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – A top Florida Republican is going to testify in a trial that could decide the fate of the state Senate.

Sen. Bill Galvano was in charge of the Senate committee that was responsible for drawing up a map for state Senate districts. The Bradenton Republican is scheduled to appear in a Tallahassee courtroom on Wednesday to answer questions about the effort.

The House and Senate deadlocked this fall over how to draw new boundaries for Senate districts. They were forced to come up with a new map because the Senate admitted in court filings that it violated the state constitution when it drew the current districts.

Circuit Judge George Reynolds is being asked make a decision on which map to approve. A group that sued the Legislature has recommended maps that could hand control of the Senate over to Democrats.