January 1, Trump Backs GOP Fight Against California Map

Wyatt’s Take

• Trump administration and California GOP ask Supreme Court to block state’s new district map.
• They argue the map uses race unfairly to favor Democrats.
• Supreme Court could halt the map before the 2026 elections.

The Trump administration joined with California Republicans to urge the Supreme Court to stop the state’s new congressional map before the next big election. They argue California’s map was drawn mainly using race to help Democrats, especially in District 13.

The Department of Justice says, “California’s recent redistricting is tainted by an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” They want the court to freeze the map while appeals play out.

The DOJ and GOP point to comments from Paul Mitchell, who made the map and said he aimed to “ensure that the Latino districts are bolstered… particularly in the Central Valley.”

The DOJ brief says, “[T]he mapmaker’s statements are direct evidence that race, not politics, predominated in the drawing of District 13.”

They also mention Judge Kenneth Lee’s concern that Mitchell avoided giving sworn testimony about how districts were drawn, even though he discussed it publicly before the lawsuit.

Republicans and the DOJ claim there are other ways to draw the map without dividing voters by race. They say, “Under this Court’s precedents, that direct and indirect evidence is more than enough to overcome the presumption of good faith.”

The Trump side admits California wants to fight Texas’ district changes, but warns, “such an overarching political goal is not a license for district-level racial gerrymandering.”

Justice Elena Kagan has asked California to answer by Jan. 29.

This push comes after the Supreme Court recently held off on blocking a similar map change in Texas, saying the courts shouldn’t interfere in elections at the last minute.

Read more at The Federalist

Wyatt Matters

When Washington elites play games with the map, it’s working folks who get squeezed out. Fair representation is a core value in the heartland, and the Supreme Court’s ruling could set a direction for elections across the country.