The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Feb. 6, 2026
Without comment February 4th, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal from the California GOP to block the state’s Proposition 50 congressional redistricting as racially gerrymandered. What’s next in the Trump gerrymandering wars?
Though the U.S. Supreme Court’s majority ignored racial gerrymandering in Texas and allowed five new GOP-leaning congressional districts, it was far from certain whether the politicized high court majority would allow California’s maps to stand. In the end, the court’s rejection was just 21 words long, with no explanation and no written dissent as there was in the Texas appeal. California’s Proposition 50 measure, approved by voters, allowed the legislature to gerrymander five Democratic-leaning seats in response to Texas. That map stands for the midterm.
Now, all eyes are Florida, Maryland and Virginia. Florida Governor Ron Desantis called a special session of the legislature for April 20th to manipulate the current map for three to five more GOP seats. February 4th, a Virginia circuit court of appeals asked the Virginia supreme court to rule on whether a ballot measure authorizing mid-decade redistricting was constitutional. Maryland’s House passed a redistricting proposal February 3rd, but it faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.
We have links to local reporting, and the high court’s rejection at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. Supreme Court – Complaint in Emergency Appeal from California GOP
American Democracy Minute – Updates on Two Pending U.S. Supreme Court Democracy Cases: California’s Prop 50 Redistricting, and Mississippi’s Mail Ballot Deadline
U.S. Supreme Court – ORDER IN PENDING CASE 25A839 TANGIPA, DAVID, ET AL. V. NEWSOM, GOV. OF CA, ET AL
SCOTUSBlog – Supreme Court allows California to use congressional map benefitting Democrats
American Democracy Minute – FL Governor Ron DeSantis Calls April Special Session to Gerrymander More GOP Congressional Districts, Escalating Redistricting Fight
Politico – Virginia Supreme Court will hear redistricting challenge
Maryland Matters – Redistricting bill sails through House, faces troubled waters in the Senate
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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