Supreme Court allows California to use new voting map boosting Democrats

February 4, 2026

The US Supreme Court approved California's new voting district map that benefits Democrats, potentially allowing the party to gain up to five House seats in upcoming elections. This decision came after California voters approved the redistricting change in response to Republican gains from a redrawn map in Texas that was backed by President Trump. While gerrymandering based on race is illegal in the US, partisan redistricting is permitted, and Texas had initiated a mid-decade map change despite the typical ten-year redistricting cycle.

Who is affected

Democratic Party (potential gain of up to five congressional seats)
Republican Party in California (facing reduction in House representation)
California Republicans currently holding 8 of 52 House seats
California's 25% Republican registered voters (approximately 4.65 million people)
Governor Gavin Newsom
President Donald Trump and his administration
Attorney General Pam Bondi
Texas Republicans (already gained advantage in five additional seats from their map)

What action is being taken

California is implementing the new voting map for upcoming elections
The Republican party is working to hold on to its thin House majority in November's midterm elections

Why it matters

This ruling has significant implications for the balance of power in the US House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold only a thin majority. The decision legitimizes partisan gerrymandering as a tool for political parties to gain electoral advantages, potentially establishing a precedent for other states to pursue mid-decade redistricting rather than waiting for the traditional ten-year Census cycle. With California Democrats positioned to gain up to five seats while Texas Republicans secured advantages in five additional seats, this redistricting battle could determine which party controls Congress and shapes the legislative agenda for years to come.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC