California GOP Bid to Block Newsom’s Redistricting Falls Short

The California Supreme Court declined to halt Gov. Gavin Newsom’s congressional redistricting plan after a Republican challenge, paving the way for the state legislature to approve it ahead of a Friday deadline.

In a two-sentence denial late Wednesday, the state’s high court said the Republican lawmakers that filed the lawsuit had failed to demonstrate the plan should be stopped.

“Petitioners have failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under California Constitution article IV, section 8,” the court said in its order.

Newsom (D) is pushing for a Nov. 4 statewide special election to approve congressional maps that could help Democrats gain five seats in the 2026 midterm elections, potentially offsetting Republican gains in a Texas redistricting encouraged by President Donald Trump.

The justices ruled on an emergency petition filed Monday by California Republican lawmakers, who alleged their colleagues inserted the body of the redistricting package into two unrelated, previously published bills, to circumvent the public’s right to a thirty-day notice period.

Lawmakers have used the practice, known as “gut-and-amend,” for years. The petition doesn’t challenge the practice in all cases.

Democrats hold supermajorities in both the California Senate and Assembly, so Republicans would need court intervention to block the maps.

California has an independent citizens’ commission for redistricting, but Newsom’s plan would override it. The plan would only take effect if Texas or another Republican state’s maps move forward, and would allow the districts to remain in place until 2030.

The case is Strickland v. Weber, Cal., No. S292490, Petition for writ of mandate/prohibition & application for stay denied 8/20/25.