Supreme Court Upholds California’s Democrat-Favored Congressional Map/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed California to proceed with new congressional maps that could shift up to five seats toward Democrats. Republicans and the Trump administration opposed the map, citing racial gerrymandering. The court’s ruling comes as redistricting battles shape control of Congress ahead of the 2026 midterms.
California Redistricting Ruling: Quick Looks
- Supreme Court allows new Democrat-leaning congressional districts in California
- Republicans and Trump administration challenged the map over alleged racial bias
- Court issued unsigned order with no recorded dissent
- Ruling could flip up to five congressional seats from GOP to Democrats
- Justice Alito previously noted both California and Texas acted politically in redistricting
- California AG Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the decision
- State GOP vows to continue legal fight in future election cycles
- Candidate filing for California’s 2026 congressional primaries begins Monday
Deep Look: Supreme Court Upholds California’s Democrat-Favored Congressional Map
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to block California’s new congressional district map that could advantage Democrats in this year’s midterm elections. The unsigned order, issued without dissent, allows the voter-approved redistricting plan to remain in effect despite legal challenges from the California Republican Party and the Trump administration.
In refusing to intervene, the high court rejected the GOP’s emergency appeal, which argued that the map was racially biased and unfairly redrew districts to shift political power. The decision came via the court’s emergency or “shadow” docket, a common method for resolving time-sensitive election cases without full hearings or opinions.
A lower court had already upheld the map by a 2-1 vote, finding no unlawful use of race in drawing the lines. That ruling now stands, allowing California Democrats to contest up to five seats currently held by Republicans.
The battle over the maps is part of a larger national redistricting clash that has intensified under President Donald Trump’s leadership. After Texas Republicans redrew their own map to potentially gain five seats, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed a proportional response. But unlike Texas, where redistricting is controlled by lawmakers, California required voter approval to enact changes.
Newsom celebrated the decision on social media, saying, “Trump started this redistricting war, but he’ll lose it in November.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta echoed that sentiment, calling the ruling “a win for democracy.”
Legal precedent has generally discouraged federal courts from intervening in partisan gerrymandering cases. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that political redistricting is not within the jurisdiction of federal courts. However, challenges based on racial gerrymandering are still permissible. In this case, the Court appeared satisfied with the lower court’s assessment that race was not improperly used.
By contrast, the Court previously allowed Texas to use its GOP-friendly congressional map for the 2026 elections despite a lower court suggesting it likely discriminates based on race. Justice Samuel Alito had remarked that both states appeared to engage in partisan advantage-seeking, which alone is not legally actionable under current federal law.
California Republicans remain undeterred. “We will continue to vigorously argue for Equal Protection under the law for all of California’s voters,” said Michael Columbo, attorney for the plaintiffs. Veteran GOP strategist Jon Fleishman commented online that the new map “shrinks the already small Republican congressional delegation from California.”
With congressional filing opening on Monday, California’s new lines will define the battlefield for a critical midterm election in which both parties are vying for control of the U.S. House.
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