The Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal from Republicans to halt California’s congressional map, which was passed in response to Texas’ Republican-friendly effort, launched at President Donald Trump’s urging ahead of the November midterm elections.
The high court rejection came Wednesday in an unexplained order with no justices noting dissent.
In December, the Supreme Court approved Texas’ map on the grounds that it was motivated by partisan considerations, which the court has permitted, and not by unlawful racial considerations. When the court sided with Texas, it also seemed to cite California’s effort approvingly. Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a concurring opinion that “the impetus for the adoption of the Texas map (like the map subsequently adopted in California) was partisan advantage pure and simple.”
A divided lower-court panel cited the Supreme Court order in the Texas case when it rejected a GOP challenge to California’s map. Republicans appealed to the justices, leading to Wednesday’s order.
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