TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Republican-controlled Florida House on Thursday passed legislation approving a new congressional map and sending it to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis over the objections of Democratic lawmakers.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls reconvened the session after Democrats temporarily halted debate of the bill on congressional redistricting by staging a protest featuring chants and songs.

Black lawmakers chanted in protest over what they say will diminish the state's Black representation in the U.S. House. The DeSantis map would increase Florida’s GOP representation in Florida and dismantles two of four districts now held by Black members of Congress.

The House Republicans walked out during the protests, leaving a nearly empty chamber.

Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon of Duval County, explained why she made her protest.

"I couldn’t sit back and listen to Representative Yvonne Hinson and Representative Thompson knowing that they’ve fought the same fight we’re fighting years ago — years ago," she said. "We are here only because of a politically ambitious governor who wants to run for president of the United States."

When the session resumed, Sprowls immediately called for a vote on the congressional map, arguing the legislature had work to finish and would do so Thursday. Over chants of protests by Democrats, the House voted 68-38 to approve the map.

Sprowls also released a statement Thursday saying that a group of representatives had "hijacked the legislative process" and that "ultimately this group tried to drown out the voices of the other elected Republicans and the 22 million Floridians they represent."

The map is expected to face legal challenges, but with midterm elections less than seven months away, it's unclear if any challenge could have an impact before then.

"It's a very tight timeline," said Ellen Freidin, CEO of the nonprofit Fair Districts Now.

WMU Cooley Law School professor Jeffrey Swartz said he thinks getting the maps in front of a judge before the midterm elections is possible, though.

"This will be fast tracked by the court," he said. "I think that it's that important that they will look at this redistricting plan, make a preliminary determination that it is improper and unconstitutional, and it will go that way."

Freidin said she expected to see challenges filed very soon.

"And I think that those challenges are going to be very well-taken because this map, these districts, do not comply with the Florida constitution in any way," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.