A Florida judge called Friday for a sweeping overhaul of the state's 27 congressional districts, including the one held by Rep. Dan Webster, who is seeking to become the next U.S. House speaker.

Judge Terry Lewis recommended the new congressional map, which would make it nearly impossible for Webster to win re-election from the current District 10, which includes parts of Orange, Lake and Polk counties.

Lewis' ruling also could lead to the ouster of U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham from her north Florida seat while resurrecting the political career of former Gov. Charlie Crist. Lewis also went along with a proposal that would make it harder for South Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo to get re-elected.

Voters in 2010 approved the "Fair Districts" standards that mandate legislators cannot draw districts intended to help incumbents or a member of a political party. Then, in a stinging ruling in July, the Florida Supreme Court said Republican operatives had "tainted" previous efforts to draw up and maps and ordered that eight districts be redrawn. The House and Senate during a rare August special session deadlocked over a new map drawn up by legislative staff.

The high court then asked Lewis to recommend a map. Justices must now decide whether to accept or reject Lewis's proposal.

Lewis held a three-day trial last month, during which he sorted through rival map proposals given to him by the GOP-controlled Legislature as well as from the groups that sued over the current districts.

In his ruling, Lewis sided with one of the maps given to him by a coalition of groups including the League of Women Voters of Florida.

That proposal was similar to a map prepared by legislative map-drawers, but it handles several South Florida districts differently. Lawyers for the coalition had argued that legislative proposals appeared aimed at helping Curbelo, a Republican. Legislative lawyers strongly denied the allegation.

Statement by Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli

"Today, Judge Terry Lewis issued a 19-page order recommending adoption of a remedial map in the Congressional Redistricting case. In summary, the Court found the House map preferable to either Senate map and noted that the Plaintiffs’ proposed maps were aligned to the House map in most districts.  The Court found that the Legislature took appropriate steps to guard against improper partisan intent, and that there was no evidence that Legislative staff had any intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.  However, the Court also found the CP-1 map, submitted by the Coalition Plaintiffs, offered better tier two performance, and was therefore the map recommended to the Supreme Court. CP-1 is essentially the House map, with changes focused on Districts 20, 26, and 27 and accompanying minor changes in Districts 21-25.

"This recommended order is not final. The next step in this process is a review by the Florida Supreme Court.

"I want to thank our map drawers for their excellent work and professionalism, the Florida House of Representatives’ legal team for their work, and Chair Oliva for leading our Chamber’s effort. As your Speaker, I am deeply appreciative to the entire House membership for your integrity and the seriousness in which you approached this effort.

"I look forward to seeing you later this month."

Statement by Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner

"Judge Lewis recommended the Florida Supreme Court adopt a map submitted by the Coalition Plaintiffs. That map and associated statistics prepared by our Senate Reapportionment Staff are attached.

"I look forward to seeing you on October 19 to begin our work to pass a new Senate map. Today’s order highlights the importance of a joint legislative work product. I believe the process Chairs Galvano and Oliva established will enable us to develop a mutually agreeable product and look forward to viewing the base maps created by the professional staff of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and the House Select Committee on Redistricting when they become available."