Supreme Court clears the way for California to use Prop 50 maps

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that California’s new congressional districts will be allowed to go into effect in time for this year’s midterm election.

The court rejected an emergency request made by the state’s Republican party that asked the justices to override the new maps that were created under Proposition 50. State Democrats pushed the new maps to counter new congressional districts drawn up in Texas at the behest of President Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump said he was ‘entitled’ to five more congressional seats in Texas,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement. “He started this redistricting war. He lost and he’ll lose again in November.”

The ruling didn’t specify which way each justice voted or the reasoning behind the decision, which is typical for emergency decisions.

In January, a three-judge panel also struck down the Republican blocking attempt, saying the group “[failed] to show that the voters acted with discriminatory intent." Republicans had argued that the maps were racially discriminatory and favored Latino voters.

Sixty-four percent of California voters approved the new maps in November.

The maps are designed to give Democrats a better chance of picking up five new districts and an opportunity at taking control of Congress in the midterms.