Overview
- In a one-sentence, unexplained order with no public dissents, the Supreme Court declined to block California’s Proposition 50 map for this year’s elections.
- The map, endorsed by voters in November, is designed to put roughly five Republican-held seats in play for Democrats, with implications for control of the U.S. House.
- A three-judge federal panel rejected an injunction in a 2–1 ruling on Jan. 14, finding evidence of racial intent “exceptionally weak” and partisan motives “overwhelming.”
- California Republicans and the Trump administration argued the lines used race as a proxy for politics, citing the mapmaker’s comments, while the state noted the number of Latino-majority districts did not increase and Latino share fell in District 13.
- The ruling follows the court’s December decision allowing Texas to use a GOP-favored map; candidate filing in California opens Feb. 9, with a June 2 primary.