Federal Judges Uphold California’s New Congressional Districts in a Boost for Democrats

Voters overwhelmingly approved the new congressional maps, which were drawn in response to Republican redistricting efforts in Texas, in a November special election.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, left

Noah Berger/AP

A panel of federal judges on Wednesday upheld California’s new Democrat-friendly, voter-approved congressional maps, a blow to the Republicans challenging the new lines.

Two out of three judges in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California panel said that the plaintiffs, which include the California Republican Party and several California voters, “failed to show that racial gerrymandering occurred,” the main argument Republicans made in the case.

Democrats immediately cheered the ruling.