Supreme Court Approves California’s Revised Congressional Map Favoring Democrats

The Supreme Court delivered a decision on Wednesday permitting California to implement a newly voter-endorsed congressional map favoring Democrats in this year’s elections. This decision dismissed an urgent appeal from state Republicans and the Trump administration.

The court’s brief order was unanimous, with no dissenting opinions from any justices.

Previously, the justices had sanctioned the use of a Republican-leaning map in Texas for the 2026 elections, despite a lower court’s findings that it likely engaged in racial discrimination.

Justice Samuel Alito, known for his conservative views, noted back in December that it seemed both states had crafted these maps to secure political advantages, a practice that the Supreme Court has ruled cannot constitute grounds for a federal lawsuit.

In their argument, Republicans, supported by the Trump administration, contended that the California map improperly took race into account. However, a lower court had already refuted this claim with a 2-1 decision.

The justices’ unsigned order keeps in place districts that are designed to flip up to five seats now held by Republicans, part of a tit-for-tat nationwide redistricting battle spurred by President Donald Trump, with control of Congress on the line in midterm elections.

Last year, at Trump’s behest, Texas Republicans redid the state’s congressional districts with an eye on gaining five seats.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is eying a 2028 presidential run, vowed to respond in kind, though he had to win over voters, not just lawmakers, to do so.

Filing for congressional primaries in California begins on Monday.