CA Supreme Court rejects GOP Plea to Delay Dem Redistricting Proposal

The California Supreme Court has denied a petition from Republican lawmakers seeking to force a 30-day delay before action could be taken on legislation that may put new congressional maps before voters this November, Monica Madden and Oren Oppenheim reported for ABC News.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting package would call a November special election to let voters decide on proposed new congressional maps. (Photo: Coolcaesar Wikimedia Commons)

“The petition for writ of mandate and application for stay are denied. Petitioners have failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under California Constitution article IV, section 8,” the court wrote.

In a statement first shared with ABC station KGO, the plaintiffs vowed to continue fighting the measure.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is not the end of this fight,” wrote State Sens. Tony Strickland and Suzette Martinez Valladares, Assemblyman Tri Ta, and Assemblywoman Kathryn Sanchez.

“Although the Court denied our petition, it did not explain the reason for its ruling. This means Governor Newsom and the Democrats’ plan to gut the voter-created Citizens Redistricting Commission, silence public input, and stick taxpayers with a $200+ million bill will proceed. … We will continue to challenge this unconstitutional power grab in the courts and at the ballot box. Californians deserve fair, transparent elections, not secret backroom deals to protect politicians.”

Meanwhile, the California legislature moved a step closer Wednesday to advancing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting package, which would call a November special election to let voters decide on proposed new congressional maps.