Supreme Court allows new California congressional districts that favor
Democrats
[February 05, 2026]
By MARK SHERMAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to
use a new voter-approved congressional map that is favorable to
Democrats in this year’s elections, rejecting a last-ditch plea from
state Republicans and the Trump administration.
No justices dissented from the brief order denying the appeal without
explanation, which is common on the court's emergency docket.
The justices had previously allowed Texas’ Republican-friendly map to be
used in 2026, despite a lower-court ruling that it likely discriminates
on the basis of race.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December that it appeared
both states had adopted new maps for political advantage, which the high
court has previously ruled cannot be a basis for a federal lawsuit.
Republicans, joined by the Trump administration, claimed the California
map improperly relied on race as well. But a lower court disagreed by a
2-1 vote. The Justice Department and White House did not immediately
respond to messages seeking comment.
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 eyeing a 2028
presidential run, pledged to respond in kind, though he had to win over
voters, not just lawmakers, to do so.
Newsom celebrated the court's decision, saying on social media that
Trump had “started this redistricting war” and would end up losing out
in the November midterms, when control of Congress is at stake.
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A worker clears snow at the U.S. Supreme Court after a snowstorm
Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
California's attorney general, Democrat Rob Bonta, said the decision
was “good news not only for Californians, but for our democracy.”
The state Republican Party, which brought the case, vowed to keep
fighting against the map's use in future elections.
"We will continue to vigorously argue for Equal Protection under the
law for all of California’s voters,” Michael Columbo, counsel for
the plaintiffs, said in a statement.
One longtime party strategist, Jon Fleishman, a former executive
director of the California Republican Party, said in a post on X
that the decision means “this year’s elections will take place on
the new lines shrinking the already very small Republican delegation
from California."
Filing for congressional primaries in California begins on Monday.
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Associated Press writers Michael Blood in Los Angeles and Lindsay
Whitehurst contributed to this report.
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