From NBC News: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to use a new congressional map that voters approved, delivering a major victory for Democrats ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
The decision came down in a one-sentence order that provided no explanation or dissents. Republicans had asked the high court to block California’s redrawn district lines, alleging they were racially gerrymandered.
The map, drawn by Democratic lawmakers and passed by voters last November through the Proposition 50 ballot measure, gives the party an opportunity to pick up as many as five House seats as they seek to win a majority in the chamber this fall.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was a lead proponent of the redistricting push, branding it as a response to a new map enacted last summer in Texas, which could similarly net Republicans up to five seats.
Republicans had argued that the new map was redrawn with a racial bias. A federal district court had rejected the GOP appeal to block the map last month. Now the Supreme Court has rejected it as well, handing a victory to Democrats.
The brief ruling, which gives no indication of any justices dissenting, simply reads, “The application for writ of injunction pending appeal presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to th Court is denied.”
In a similar move in December, the Supreme Court also allowed Texas to keep their new congressional map for the 2026 elections.
The candidate filing deadline in California is March 6 and the primary election is scheduled for June 2.
Newsom is already celebrating his victory. In a post on X immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, he wrote, “Donald Trump said he was ‘entitled’ to five more Congressional seats in Texas. He started this redistricting war. He lost, and he’ll lose again in November.”
Donald Trump said he was ‘entitled’ to five more Congressional seats in Texas. He started this redistricting war. He lost, and he’ll lose again in November.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) February 4, 2026
Newsom’s press office gloated over the win as well, and posted a photo of Newsom looking like a presidential candidate.
BREAKING: SUPREME COURT ALLOWS NEW CALIFORNIA VOTING MAP FOR MIDTERMS! pic.twitter.com/JNuhrxBVpS
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 4, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: The US Supreme Court has just allowed California’s new Congressional map heavily favoring Democrats to take effect BEFORE the midterm elections in November
ALL REPUBLICAN STATES MUST REDRAW THEIR MAPS *NOW!*
Democrats will likely gain at least 5 seats in CA. We… pic.twitter.com/MqvdiheSOb
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 4, 2026
🚨 The Supreme Court has DECLINED to block California’s Proposition 50 congressional map pending appeal.
No justice noted a dissent. pic.twitter.com/Vvx04NprNM
— SCOTUS Wire (@scotus_wire) February 4, 2026
READ MORE from NBC News.
BREAKING: Supreme Court allows California to use new congressional map, giving Democrats a boost giving Democrats a boost in upcoming midterm elections. https://t.co/RbzpGs2SJR
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 4, 2026
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