California Supreme Court Denies GOP Bid to Halt Redistricting Legislation

Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Left-Leaning

Why: Coverage emphasizes Republican objections but frames Democrats as prioritizing fairness and voter choice, while Republican claims of corruption are presented more critically.

Court Rejects GOP Petition

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday night denied a petition from Republican lawmakers who sought to delay Democratic-led redistricting legislation. Republicans argued the legislature should wait 30 days before advancing the package, which could put new congressional maps before voters this November.

In a brief order, the court wrote:

"The petition for writ of mandate and application for stay are denied. Petitioners have failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under California Constitution article IV, section 8."

Republican Response

State Sens. Tony Strickland and Suzette Martinez Valladares, along with Assemblymembers Tri Ta and Kathryn Sanchez, criticized the ruling. They accused Democrats and Gov. Gavin Newsom of undermining California’s voter-created Citizens Redistricting Commission and imposing an election cost exceeding $200 million.

In their joint statement, the Republicans said they will continue the fight in court and “at the ballot box,” describing the plan as a “power grab” that limits public input and burdens taxpayers.

Democrats Push Forward

Despite the court setback for Republicans, Democrats advanced the legislative package Wednesday.

The proposal calls for a November special election where voters would decide on new congressional maps. Democrats argue the changes are necessary for fair representation, potentially helping them flip up to five seats.

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan said, “If we’re talking about the cost of a special election versus the cost of our democracy … those costs seem well worth paying in this moment.”

Cost Dispute Over Special Election

The projected cost of the November vote remains uncertain.

• Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, chair of the appropriations committee, said estimates place the cost at $230 million.

• The California Department of Finance has not provided an official figure and says the issue is still under review.

• Republicans, including Assemblymembers Dianne Dixon and David Tangipa, pressed Democrats on the lack of a clear funding plan.

  
  

Tangipa said he had not received “a single answer” on how the special election would be financed, raising concerns about the state’s projected budget deficit.

Republicans Seek Federal Investigation

On the same day, Republican lawmakers announced they would send a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys in California. The letter alleges that some Democratic legislators may have drawn maps to benefit themselves and conditioned votes on favorable redistricting lines.

These claims, reported by local outlets, have not been independently confirmed by ABC News. Assembly member Carl Demaio called the redistricting effort “corrupt” and said it could require a federal investigation to enforce compliance with ethical standards.

Democratic Response to Corruption Claims

Democratic Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire rejected the accusations. He said Republicans were following former President Donald Trump’s efforts to “rig the 2026 elections” and argued that California’s plan leaves the final decision with voters. “This is about fairness,” McGuire said.

What’s Next

Both the Assembly and Senate are scheduled to debate and vote on the package on Thursday. The three-bill package is being advanced under the label “Election Rigging Response Act.” If passed, California voters will weigh in on whether to adopt the new congressional maps in a November special election, a move that could reshape the political balance in the state’s delegation to Washington.