WASHINGTON D.C. - A three-judge-panel today cleared the way for Proposition 50, the California constitutional amendment that authorizes a new map redrawing California’s congressional districts, to go into effect for 2026 elections. The ruling followed a three-day hearing in December where expert and fact witnesses, including those put forward by League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and represented by Democracy Defenders Action, testified in defense of the redistricting legislation. The decision comes amid a wave of redistricting litigation nationwide and follows recent Supreme Court rulings that have allowed states broad latitude to redraw maps based on partisan considerations.

In rejecting the request for an injunction, the court declined to accept claims that the new maps were drawn predominantly on the basis of race, signaling that the challengers failed to meet the high constitutional bar required to block duly enacted redistricting plans. Rather, the court looked at the intent of California voters, finding that voter “intent is paramount” and that “there is voluminous and overwhelming evidence in the record indicating that the voters intended the Proposition 50 Map to be a partisan gerrymander.” As a result of today’s ruling, California will proceed with implementing the Proposition 50 maps for the 2026 election cycle, including candidate filing and ballot preparation under the new district lines.

The day after California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50, the California Republican Party and a group of citizens filed a lawsuit challenging the plan's constitutionality. Shortly after, the Department of Justice (DOJ) also joined the lawsuit. The groups had argued for an order blocking redistricting.

“This is an important day for California. Unlike redistricting efforts elsewhere, this one was driven by the voters themselves, and the court rightly respected that choice,” said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman. “It is also an important moment for the Latino community, which was unfairly dragged into a partisan fight. The court made clear that this case was about politics, not race, and rejected the attempt to turn Latino voters into a convenient scapegoat.”

LULAC, the largest and oldest Latino civil rights organization in the country, has over 575,000 members nationwide, and more than 40,000 members in California.

“The court recognized what has been clear all along: Proposition 50 reflects a political decision, not an unlawful racial gerrymander,”  said Tianna Mays, legal director of Democracy Defenders Action.  “That distinction matters, and today’s ruling reaffirmed it.”

Read the ruling HERE.

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About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.lulac.org.

Democracy Defenders Action brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.