California Governor Gavin Newsom, together with native congressional representatives, state officers and supporters, speaks as he proclaims the redrawing of California’s congressional maps, calling on voters to approve a poll measure, in response to an analogous transfer in Texas being supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 14, 2025.
Mike Blake | Reuters
The Supreme Court docket on Wednesday allowed California to make use of a brand new voter-approved congressional map that’s favorable to Democrats on this yr’s elections, rejecting a last-ditch plea from state Republicans and the Trump administration.
No justices dissented from the temporary order.
The justices had beforehand allowed Texas’ Republican-friendly map for use in 2026, regardless of a decrease court docket ruling that it probably discriminates on the idea of race.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December that it appeared each states had adopted new maps for political benefit, which the excessive court docket has beforehand dominated can’t be a foundation for a federal lawsuit.
Republicans, joined by the Trump administration, claimed the California map improperly relied on race, as properly. However a decrease court docket disagreed by a 2-1 vote.
The justices’ unsigned order retains in place districts which might be designed to flip as much as 5 seats now held by Republicans, a part of a tit-for-tat nationwide redistricting battle spurred by President Donald Trump, with management of Congress on the road in midterm elections.
Final yr, at Trump’s behest, Texas Republicans redid the state’s congressional districts with an eye fixed on gaining 5 seats.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who’s eying a 2028 presidential run, vowed to reply in variety, although he needed to win over voters, not simply lawmakers, to take action.
Submitting for congressional primaries in California begins on Monday.
