Source: Politico
“California Democrats will likely be able to use their gerrymandered congressional map in next year’s midterm elections after a panel of federal judges on Wednesday upheld it. In a 2-1 ruling, the panel rejected a request to block the map from the California Republican Party and Donald Trump’s Justice Department, which sued the state after voters in November approved new boundaries, drawn in a bid to create five additional blue seats. Judge Josephine Staton, a Barack Obama appointee, wrote the ruling, with Judge Kenneth Lee, a Trump appointee, dissenting. Joe Biden appointed Judge Wesley Hsu joined Staton in her ruling. … Democratic leaders initiated the redistricting effort and special election this summer after Trump urged Texas to carve out five new red districts. … It seemed likely the judges would uphold the state’s map after the Supreme Court allowed Texas’[s] new congressional map to stand in a ruling that invoked California.” (01/14/26)
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/14/federal-judges-california-congressional-map-00729765