Judges Clear California’s New Congressional Map for Midterm Elections. A panel of federal judges has ruled that California can move forward with its newly drawn congressional map in next year’s midterm elections - According to Politico. In a 2–1 decision, the court rejected an effort by the California Republican Party and Donald Trump’s Justice Department to block the map which was approved by voters last November and is expected to favor Democrats with up to five additional seats. Writing for the majority, Judge Josephine Staton said challengers failed to prove racial gerrymandering and found no grounds for an emergency halt. Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the ruling, calling the lawsuit an attempt to undermine voters’ will. Republicans argued the map was racially motivated, but state officials countered it was driven by partisan strategy. Legal experts say a Supreme Court intervention is unlikely, especially after a similar ruling allowed Texas’s map to stand.