The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that California may proceed with its updated congressional district map, which could give Democrats an additional five seats in Congress.
The order, which was a single sentence, ruled against the California Republican Party’s request to invalidate the map, finding it unconstitutional for drawing new districts based on race.
There were no dissents from other Supreme Court justices on the ruling.
The new California map was adopted by the California Legislature, despite the state constitution noting that an independent redistricting commission, rather than the legislature, normally has the power to redistrict. As such, a ballot initiative, Proposition 50, was proposed to amend the state constitution and allow the use of a new map.
In late 2025, the Supreme Court issued a ruling (Abbott v. LULAC) allowing a new Texas Congressional map to stand, paving the way for a similar ruling on California’s new map. Texas’s new map, drawn by a redistricting committee appointed by Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, was ultimately approved by the state legislature.
“With an eye on the upcoming 2026 midterm elections,” Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the Texas case ruling, “several States have in recent months redrawn their congressional districts in ways that are predicted to favor the State’s dominant political party. Texas adopted the first new map, then California responded with its own map for the stated purpose of counteracting what Texas had done. North Carolina followed suit, and other States are also considering new maps.”
Justice Alito’s opinion was concurred by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch.
Three justices dissented from Alito’s opinion in the Texas case, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Justice Elena Kagan.
