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California can move forward with a new US House map that will improve Democrats’ chances in the 2026 midterms, a federal court ruled Wednesday.
A three-judge panel in Los Angeles ruled 2-1 to reject requests from both state Republicans and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to block the map from being used, giving Democrats a realistic chance to flip five House seats in the midterm elections.
In November, California voters passed a ballot measure, known as Proposition 50, that dramatically changed the state’s districts. The pursuit of a new map is widely viewed as an effort to mitigate recent redistricting in Texas, which produced many Republican-leaning districts.
“The weak efforts of the Republicans to silence the voters have failed,” said Gov. of California Gavin Newsom in a statement. “California voters overwhelmingly supported Prop 50 — in response to Trump’s Texas gerrymandering — and that’s exactly what this court concluded.”
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the federal court’s ruling that allows the state to move forward with a new congressional map. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The complaint challenged California’s efforts to redraw the federal district map, with lawyers for the DOJ Civil Rights Division arguing that race was “used as a proxy” to fix districts that benefit Democrats.
But California Democrats argue that the map is legal because it’s designed to benefit.
In 2019, the US Supreme Court ruled that gang harassment is a political question and not one for federal courts to decide. On Wednesday, a California panel sided with the state’s argument, saying there was insufficient evidence that the maps were drawn along racial lines.
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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. (REUTERS/Fred Greaves)
“After reviewing the evidence, we concluded that it was exactly what one would expect: it was impartial,” the judges wrote.
US District Judge Kenneth Lee, an appointee of President Donald Trump, said in his dissent that at least one district was drawn using race as a factor “to appease Latino groups and voters.”
Nevertheless, Republicans are expected to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris attends a Yes on Proposition 50 rally at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The panel’s decision included a major victory for Democrats following the application of new congressional maps in several Republican-held states.
Last year, Missouri moved forward with congressional redistricting in favor of Republicans, and North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature signed off on a new map that could lead to more GOP congressional victories.
“The people of California voted overwhelmingly for Proposition 50. Today’s decision is in line with the will of the people. It also means that, so far, every single challenge against Proposition 50 has failed,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more proud 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.”
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Housing maps are usually redrawn every 10 years after the census, and the process rarely takes place within a decade. California relies on an independent commission to draw the maps, while other states, including Texas, allow lawmakers to lead the effort.
To regain control of the House during the midterms, Democrats need to pick up only a few seats. The Republicans currently hold a slim majority with 218 seats to the Democrats’ 213.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser, Ashley Oliver and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
