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The United States Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal from the California Republican Party and the Trump administration aimed at blocking a voter-approved congressional map that favors Democrats.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, California recently redrew its congressional voting districts in direct response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas, which were pushed by President Trump. In August, Texas approved a new congressional map projected to gain Republicans up to five additional seats by reshaping districts to dilute Democratic voting power, particularly in areas with growing minority populations. In reaction, California Governor Gavin Newsom spearheaded Proposition 50, a ballot initiative to temporarily suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission and implement a new map intended to mirror Texas’s partisan gains, this time favoring Democrats. California officials argued that their move was a necessary countermeasure in what they called a “redistricting war” ignited by Trump. The new California map, approved overwhelmingly by voters in a special election, is similarly estimated to flip up to five congressional seats from Republican to Democratic control.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, the Supreme Court rejected an emergency request from the California Republican Party and the Trump administration to block the state’s new congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The decision came in the form of a brief, unsigned order with no noted dissents or written explanation, which is typical for rulings on the Court’s emergency docket. The ruling lets stand a federal district court’s earlier decision to uphold Proposition 50, which reshaped California’s districts in a way that will give an advantage to Democrats in the state.

This comes after the California GOP, backed by the Trump administration, filed a lawsuit arguing that Proposition 50 amounted to an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Lawyers for the GOP argued that the new map was drawn to intentionally favor Hispanic voters, thereby diluting the influence of Republican voters across key districts, which they say violated the Equal Protection Clause and the Voting Rights Act. Despite their arguments, a three-judge federal panel ruled 2-1 in favor of California Democrats, stating that the evidence showed the map was designed primarily for political gain, not racial manipulation.

Following the decision, California Governor Gavin Newsom took to social media to declare victory, reiterating that Trump “started this redistricting war” and declaring that “he lost, and he’ll lose again in November.” Attorney General Rob Bonta also praised the ruling, calling it a win for democracy and a necessary response to Trump’s aggressive redistricting efforts in Texas.

Meanwhile, the California Republican Party expressed disappointment but vowed to continue fighting the map in lower courts. Their legal counsel, Michael Columbo, warned that the ruling could open the door for states to push through racially biased maps under the guise of voter approval, calling the Court’s inaction a “dangerous” precedent.