National Democrats are spending to defend U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor as seven Florida congressional races shift toward their party in new ratings, renewing debate over whether Republicans mid-decade redraw will deliver its intended gains.The map targeted as many as four additional Republican seats. Democrats have called it a potential dummymander a partisan redraw that backfires on the party that designed it.WATCH: Florida GOP redraw faces new questions as Democrats defend Castor and ratings shift Florida GOP redraw faces new questions as Democrats defend Castor and ratings shiftThe Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is paying for ads in Castors Tampa-area 14th District as part of a nearly $8 million nationwide advertising buy across 26 districts this week. The spending puts national party resources behind an incumbent Republicans targeted with the new boundaries.Inside Elections moved Castors race to toss-up on Sept. 17, following an earlier shift from lean Republican to tilt Republican. The forecaster rated the district solid Democratic before the redraw, underscoring how much more competitive her reelection contest has become.The latest changes extend beyond Tampa. In its Sept. 22 Power Rankings, Fox News shifted seven Florida congressional races toward Democrats. Jared Moskowitzs race in the 25th District moved from toss-up to lean Democratic, while Republican Mara Elvira Salazars race in the 27th moved from likely Republican to lean Republican.Fox attributed the changes largely to national polling favoring Democrats and movement toward the party among Hispanic voters.During the redistricting debate in April, political consultant Michael Worley warned that Republican advantages on paper would not necessarily translate into November victories.These districts, while they might look Republican on paper, could very well be a key swing vote come November and deliver a Democratic majority back to the House, Worley said in an April 27 interview.Worley, CEO of MDW Communications, pointed to uncertainty surrounding voters who had backed Republicans in previous elections.Well, theyre making a big bet that non-Cuban Hispanics are going to continue voting for Republicans. And that is not a given, he said.Analysts also warned during the April debate that moving Democratic and independent voters into surrounding Republican districts could make some existing GOP seats more competitive.Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the redraw in August, calling it a good map, while acknowledging a different political environment from the one Republicans faced in 2022.This year theyre winnable, but I think its going to require some effort, DeSantis said of the four targeted seats.The ratings changes do not establish that redistricting caused the movement, and seven shifts toward Democrats do not mean seven seats will change parties. Falling short of four Republican pickups would not, by itself, demonstrate that the map cost the GOP seats.In a July 13 interview, political scientist Susan MacManus emphasized that Democrats would have to turn enthusiasm into votes.Turnout is a huge issue. Thats the bottom line. Thats how you win elections, MacManus said.For now, dummymander remains a political argument. Voters will decide the races Nov. 3. ...read more read less