OOPS!

Governor’s Office distributes redistricting map labeled “Gulf of Mexico”

By: Norine Dworkin | Editor in Chief

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May 2, 2026

It always helps to have a proofreader on hand.

With all of the commentary about Florida’s new redistricting map, passed Wednesday by both chambers of the state legislature, one item appears to have been overlooked: the map included on page 174 in the meeting packet for redistricting bill HB 1-D — the one that came directly from the Executive Office of the Governor — calls the water west of the state the “Gulf of Mexico.”

Oops. What a map mistake! According to two Florida statutes, that water is the Gulf of America.

It was just last year that much of the state legislative session was spent debating changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the basin — something, reported Friday, that he apparently wanted to name after himself.

Even so, out of Florida's 2025 legislative session came House Bill 549, directing state agencies to update materials to “reflect the new federal designation of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America”; and House Bill 575, which ensures that “all official documents, maps and references" reflect that designation [emphasis added].

Both laws went into effect July 1, 2025.

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Page 174 from the Executive Office of the Governor's Proposed Congressional Redistricting Plan by mapmaker Jason Poreda, included in House Bill 1D. The map clearly says Gulf of Mexico — no longer the gulf's name, according to Republican-sponsored legislation.

From the Executive Office of the Governor

So whatever else is said about the new redistricting map — and there is a lot; check out our story below — it already runs counter to these Florida statutes.

“On January 20th, 2025, the body of water along Florida’s west coast became the Gulf of America — that is a fact,” Sen. Joe Gruters said in a press release last April, referring to Trump’s executive order. It was Gruters who carried HB 549's companion bill in the senate. “These bills, now Florida law, ensure we reflect that fact across state government and, most importantly, in our schools," he said. "It is our responsibility to ensure our children understand American greatness.”

It’s unclear what lesson of “American greatness” is conveyed when "that fact" isn't reflected across the executive and legislative branches, let alone the entire state government. Nor is it yet known how the map slipped by the eyes of the governor, house speaker, senate president and so many legislators who had been committed to the renaming process. The governor's press liaison did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Likewise, VoxPopuli was unsuccessful reaching Gruters by phone or email but we'll update the story if we do.