In a 2-1 ruling, the Supreme Court just approved California's new congressional map, handing Democrats a crucial victory in the battle for House control ahead of the 2026 midterms. The congressional map allows the Democratic Party to pick up as many as five House seats this fall.

“We conclude that it was exactly as one would think: it was partisan,” the court wrote of the voter-approved plan. “The record contains a mountain of statements reflecting the partisan goals of Proposition 50.”

According to CNN, of the three-judge panel, the two judges in the majority were appointed by Democratic presidents, while the third opposing judge was appointed by Donald Trump. 

California's map, passed through ballot measure Proposition 50 last year, came as a direct response to Texas' GOP-friendly redraw that garnered additional Republican seats. 

With 64% in favor, voters overwhelmingly backed the measure after Democratic leaders argued it balanced the playing field in what became a high-stakes redistricting war. 

Republicans claim the map was tainted by racial gerrymandering, not just partisan maneuvering. However, a lower federal court disagreed, calling the evidence of race motives "exceptionally weak.”

The one-sentence ruling had no dissents or explanations, mirroring the court's earlier nod to Texas' map in December. 

Now, with candidate filings starting soon and primaries in June, the map is locked in—potentially flipping up to five House seats blue and challenging the GOP's slim majority.

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