WCV News 24

 Supreme Court allows California to use new voting map boosting Democrats

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for California to use a new voting map that favours Democrats, paving the way for the party to gain up to five congressional seats this year.

The unsigned order from the court did not give a reason for the decision.

Californians voted to approve changing the state's voting districts last year, with the aim of cancelling gains made by Republicans through a redrawn map in Texas. Each district sends a lawmaker to the US House.

The Republican party is working to hold on to its thin majority in the House in November's midterm elections. Historically, the party of the current president loses House seats during this congressional vote.

Reacting to the Supreme Court's ruling on Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said: "Donald Trump said he was 'entitled' to five more Congressional seats in Texas. He started this redistricting war. He lost, and he'll lose again in November."

California Republicans and the Trump administration had made an emergency request for the Supreme Court to block the map as they mounted a legal challenge in a lower court. A lower federal court in California last month rejected a similar request.

Of California's 52 seats in the US House of Representatives, only eight are taken by Republicans. Forty three are filled by Democrats, and one is currently vacant.

But there are millions of Republicans in the state. As of February 2025, 25% of California's 18.6 million registered voters identified as Republican.