Federal judges confirm California voters knew exactly what they were doing
A federal court has ruled that California’s new congressional maps are legal
A federal court has ruled that California’s new congressional maps are legal, dealing a blow to Republicans who hoped the judiciary would undo what voters very deliberately approved at the ballot box. The decision clears the way for districts designed to favor Democrats in the next election. Republicans will appeal until every option to overturn the will of the people is exhausted.
In a 2–1 ruling, the three-judge panel rejected claims from California Republicans and the Trump administration that the maps created under Proposition 50 amounted to illegal racial gerrymandering. The majority noted the obvious: during the campaign, opponents didn’t argue the maps were racially motivated. They argued the maps were a political power grab. Voters agreed and passed them anyway.
The lone dissent came from Trump-appointed Judge Kenneth K. Lee, who argued race likely played a role in at least one district and warned against what he called a “racial spoils system.” The majority was unmoved. Voter intent mattered, the court said, and that intent was transparent: to rebalance congressional power after Republicans aggressively redrew maps elsewhere.
The court didn’t bless a secret scheme. It acknowledged a very public one, at the same time reminding Republicans that losing a vote isn’t the same thing as being wronged.
Any bets the gang of six will decide that the districts do constitute a racial gerrymander and must be thrown out despite having reached the opposite decision already in a red state.