California Governor Gavin Newsom and local legislators, state officials and advocates speak to announce the redrawing of California’s state legislative map and call for approval of a ballot measure, countering a similar move in Texas backed by US President Donald Trump, on August 14, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.
Mike Blake | Reuters
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to use a new voter-approved congressional map that favored Democrats in this year’s elections, rejecting the state’s Republican Party and the Trump administration’s last-ditch appeal.
None of the judges objected to the brief order.
The justices had previously allowed Texas’ Republican-leaning map to be used in 2026 despite a lower court’s ruling that it could discriminate on the basis of race.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December that the states appeared to have adopted the new maps for political gain, but the high court had previously ruled that they could not be the basis of a federal lawsuit.
Republicans, joined by the Trump administration, argued that California’s map relies unfairly on race. But lower courts disagreed, 2-1.
The justices’ unsigned order preserves the districts aimed at flipping up to five seats currently held by Republicans as part of a nationwide redistricting battle egged on by President Donald Trump for control of Congress in the midterm elections.
Last year, at President Trump’s order, Texas Republicans redrew the state’s congressional districts in an effort to gain five seats.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is eyeing a presidential run in 2028, has vowed to do the same, but to do so he needs support not only from lawmakers but also from voters.
Filing for California’s congressional primary begins Monday.
