SCOTUS Lets Democrats Keep Gerrymandered Maps Heading Into Midterms

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday it will allow California Democrats to move forward with their voter-approved gerrymandered maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Since the approval of Proposition 50, which seeks to reduce Republican congressional seats from nine to four by redrawing district boundaries, the state GOP and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have attempted to block the new maps. The application was presented to Justice Elena Kagan and referred to the full Supreme Court, which ultimately denied the injunction.

In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement Wednesday blaming President Donald Trump for starting the redistricting “war.”

“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,” Newsom wrote.

The campaign for Proposition 50, backed by Democrats and Newsom, began in July 2025 shortly after Texas announced plans to redistrict its congressional maps. After voters approved the measure in November 2025, Republicans quickly filed a lawsuit, bringing the case before a three-judge federal panel. The U.S. Department of Justice also intervened on the side of the plaintiffs.

The hearing took place over three days in December 2025, with the judges hearing testimony from experts and witnesses on both sides. The GOP argued that the Prop 50 maps