A federal three-judge panel for the U.S. Central District Court of California ruled that Democrats can proceed in using their newly redrawn congressional maps for the 2026 midterm elections.
The court found “that the evidence presented reflects that Proposition 50 was exactly what it was billed as: a political gerrymander designed to flip five Republican-held seats to the Democrats.”
The opinion was written by Judge Josephine Stanton, with Judge Kenneth Lee dissenting in the 2-1 decision.
Background
The Trump administration and California Republicans sued Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, claiming the recently approved congressional maps were drawn to favor Hispanic voters over other racial groups. Republicans argued race was a predominant factor in drawing the district boundaries, in violation of the 14th and 15th amendments .
Republicans asked the court for a preliminary injunction that would block the maps from being used in 2026.
In November, California voters overwhelmingly supported the new maps through the ballot measure known as Proposition 50. Californians voted to amend their state’s constitution so that the new map could be used from 2026 to 2030. The new map shifts five of California’s Republican U.S. House seats to be more favorable to Democrats in the upcoming midterms.
California Democrats argued in court that the new congressional maps were drawn for partisan reasons and to shore up support for vulnerable Democratic congressional candidates. They said it was in retaliation for Texas’ own redistricting legislation, signed into law in August, that’s aimed at helping Republicans secure five additional House seats.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court allowed Texas to keep its redrawn maps. In its ruling, the Supreme Court recognized that “Texas adopted the first new map, then California responded with its own map for the stated purpose of counteracting what Texas had done.”
In a concurring opinion, Justice Samuel Alito, who was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, wrote that “it is indisputable – that the impetus for the adoption of the Texas map (like the map subsequently adopted in California) was partisan advantage pure and simple.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s ruling, legal sources familiar with California’s case contended that Republicans would face an uphill battle in court, given the Supreme Court’s go-ahead ruling on the Texas case, and would likely not be able to meet the burden of showing that race was the predominant factor in redistricting.
At the core of Republicans’ case in court were public statements made by Paul Mitchell, head of the consulting firm tasked to draw the congressional maps for California. Mitchell told outside groups he intended to bolster Latino voters in the 13th Congressional District.
After Wednesday’s closing arguments, Bill Essayli, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, told CBS News that Mitchell’s intent in using race as a factor was clear from his statements.
“In this case, we do have an admission from Paul Mitchell that that was his intent, and that was his purpose,” Essayli said.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton pushed back the government’s argument, raising the fact that California voters had backed the ballot measure.
Mitchell did not testify in court during the three-day hearing despite Republicans’ attempts to bring him into court as a witness.
The case is being closely watched as the race for control of the U.S. House in next year’s midterm elections gets underway.. Along with California and Texas, several other states have also engaged in gerrymandering efforts.
Starting Friday, congressional candidates in California may begin the signature collection process for the upcoming primaries.
