Supreme Court denies request to block California redistricting

The court's decision increases the likelihood that the newly drawn districts will stay active during the November midterm election.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Supreme Court denied a request from the California Republican Party and the Trump administration to stop California from implementing its new redistricting map ahead of the midterm election. The court issued a one-sentence ruling denying the writ of injunction, without providing an explanation or vote total. California Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the news, citing the redistricting in Texas as spurring the change in California.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's decision allows California to move forward with its new congressional district map, which is expected to give Democrats a potential gain of five seats. This comes as the court has approved the redrawn congressional map in Texas, which could favor Republican candidates. The legal challenges to California's redistricting largely focus on the revised 13th Congressional District, which the state GOP and Trump administration argue was drawn to give Hispanics greater voting power, violating the equal protection clause.

The details

The three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court of Central California had previously refused to block the redistricting maps in a 2-1 ruling, after the California GOP and Trump administration argued the new districts were illegally based on race. One of the judges on that panel also sits on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, so the writ of injunction bypassed the appellate court and went directly to the Supreme Court.

  • On February 4, 2026, the Supreme Court denied the request to block California's redistricting map.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California who welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, citing the redistricting in Texas as spurring the change in California.

Donald Trump

The former president whose administration joined the California Republican Party in requesting to stop California from implementing its new redistricting map.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“[President] 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.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (Social media)

What’s next

The continued challenge to California's redistricting largely focuses on the revised 13th Congressional District, which the state GOP and Trump administration argue was drawn to give Hispanics greater voting power, violating the equal protection clause. This legal battle is expected to continue as the midterm elections approach.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's decision to deny the request to block California's new redistricting map is a significant development in the ongoing battle over congressional district boundaries. It increases the likelihood that the redrawn districts will be in place for the November midterm elections, potentially giving Democrats a boost in California while Republicans gain ground in Texas.