The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida has filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for allegedly failing to fulfill his legal obligation to set special elections for two legislative seats that have recently become vacant.

The case of Laimont v. DeSantis arose following the resignations of Republican lawmakers State Representative Joel Rudman and State Senator Randy Fine, both seeking congressional positions after Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz resigned for positions in the Trump administration. The ACLU contends that constituents in their districts risk losing representation during the 2025 legislative session due to DeSantis’ inaction.

The ACLU's argument centers on a Florida law mandating that vacancies be filled through special elections. The organization argues that the governor has a "mandatory statutory duty" to call these elections, which they assert he has neglected, potentially denying voters their constitutional rights.

The lawsuit seeks a "writ of mandamus," which would compel DeSantis to fulfill his obligations. They conclude in the suit, "For the foregoing reasons, the Court should issue a writ of mandamus compelling the Governor to fix special elections for these months-old vacancies, with a special general election as soon as possible."

This isn't the first time DeSantis has faced legal scrutiny over his special election decisions. In 2023, the ACLU sued him for delaying a special election for a vacant state House seat in Miami-Dade County. According to ACLU attorney Nicholas Warren, "DeSantis’s refusal to act is both troubling and illegal,” stressing the importance of maintaining voter voices in government.