A three-judge panel in Los Angeles ruled 2-1 to deny requests from both state Republicans and the Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/a> to block the map from being used, giving Democrats a realistic chance at flipping up to five House seats in the midterm election.<\/p>\n In November, California voters passed a ballot initiative<\/a>, known as Proposition 50, dramatically altering the state’s congressional districts. The pursuit of the new map was largely viewed as an attempt to offset recent redistricting in Texas, which generated more Republican-leaning districts.<\/p>\n “Republicans\u2019 weak attempt to silence voters failed,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a> said in a statement. “California voters overwhelmingly supported Prop 50 \u2013 to respond to Trump\u2019s rigging in Texas \u2013 and that is exactly what this court concluded.”<\/p>\n FEDERAL JUDGES BLOCK TEXAS FROM USING REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL MAP<\/a><\/p>\n California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised a federal court decision allowing the state to move forward with a new congressional map. (Justin Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n The complaint challenged California’s efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map<\/a>, with DOJ Civil Rights Division lawyers arguing that race was “used as a proxy” to justify creating districts that benefit Democrats.<\/p>\n But California Democrats argued that the map was legal because it was drawn for partisan advantage.<\/p>\n In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering is a political question and not one for federal courts<\/a> to decide. On Wednesday, the California panel sided with the state\u2019s argument, saying there was insufficient evidence that the maps were drawn based on race.<\/p>\n RED STATE MOVES FORWARD ON TRUMP-BACKED PUSH FOR NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP<\/a><\/p>\n California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks next to his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom after California’s special election on Proposition 50, a measure that would temporarily redraw congressional districts, at the California Democratic Party Headquarters in Sacramento, California, Nov. 4, 2025.\u00a0 (REUTERS\/Fred Greaves)<\/p>\n “After reviewing the evidence, we conclude that it was exactly as one would think: it was partisan,” the judges wrote.<\/p>\n U.S. District Judge Kenneth Lee, an appointee of President Donald Trump<\/a>, said in dissent that at least one district was drawn using race as a factor “to curry favor with Latino groups and voters.”<\/p>\n Still, Republicans are expected to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n HIGH-STAKES MAP FIGHT: HERE ARE THE NEXT BATTLEGROUNDS IN THE TRUMP VS. DEMOCRATS REDISTRICTING SHOWDOWN<\/a><\/p>\n Former Vice President Kamala Harris attends a Yes on Proposition 50 rally at the Los Angeles Convention Center Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.\u00a0 (Eric Thayer\/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)<\/p>\n The panel’s ruling constitutes a major victory for Democrats following the implementation of new congressional maps in several Republican-led states.<\/p>\n Last year, Missouri moved forward with congressional redistricting that favors Republicans, and North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature signed off on a new map that may lead to an additional congressional victory for the GOP.<\/p>\n “Californians overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 50. Today\u2019s decision upholds the will of the people. It also means that, to date, every single challenge against Proposition 50 has failed,”\u00a0California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.\u00a0“I couldn\u2019t be prouder of my team for successfully defending this ballot initiative in court on behalf of Governor Newsom and Secretary of State Weber. We remain confident in the legality of Proposition 50.”<\/p>\n![\"California](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768468088_400_gavin-newsom.jpg\")
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