Supreme Court's decision to let Proposition 50 maps stand may have implications beyond 2026

"With the U.S. Supreme Court clearing the way for California's newly gerrymandered congressional maps to be used in this year's midterm elections, the stage is set for California Democrats to try to notch five new House seats. Meanwhile, the number of Republican seats is expected to be slashed by roughly half. The nation's highest court on Wednesday, Feb. 4, denied an emergency appeal by a group of California Republicans and the U.S. Department of Justice,"

"Following Wednesday's Supreme Court decision, Michael Columbo, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said although there won't be an emergency injunction to stop the Proposition 50 maps "from being used in this year's elections, our case persists, and we will continue to vigorously argue for Equal Protection under the law for all of California's voters." (The plaintiffs had argued that the Proposition 50 maps were drawn to favor one race - Hispanics - and that racial gerrymandering is illegal.)"

"Of California's 52 House seats, 43 are represented by Democrats. Only eight are held by Republicans, and one seat is vacant. That seat, in Northern California, was held by Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who died last mont h. A special election for his successor will take place in August. But with the new Proposition 50 maps, Republicans in California - already disproportionately represented in Congress - will likely only hold a handful of House seats based on"

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block California's Proposition 50 congressional maps from use in this year's midterm elections, allowing the newly drawn maps to stand. The maps are projected to help California Democrats try to gain five additional House seats while reducing Republican-held seats by roughly half. Plaintiffs including the California Republican Party and the U.S. Department of Justice will continue challenging the maps' constitutionality, alleging racial gerrymandering favoring Hispanic voters; any ruling overturning the maps would not affect elections until 2028. California's 52 House seats are 43 Democratic, eight Republican, and one vacant; a special election for the vacant seat is scheduled for August.

Read at The Mercury News