Supreme Court rejects GOP efforts to halt congressional maps in two states

The Supreme Court on Monday denied efforts by Republicans in North Carolina and Pennsylvania to block state court-ordered congressional maps favoring Democrats.

Courts in both states recently drew the new maps after finding that their state legislatures failed to adopt plans that met constitutional and statutory requirements. In response, GOP-aligned groups filed lawsuits asking the high court to intervene.

Justices on Monday issued separate orders allowing the maps selected by each state's Supreme Court to go into effect for the 2022 elections. Republicans in both states had requested that the Supreme Court block lower court rulings that ordered states to redraw the map plans, which those courts said gave the GOP an unfair advantage.

WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ENACTS CONGRESSIONAL MAP PROPOSED BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR

Three Republican-appointed justices, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch, dissented from the decision to reject North Carolina's bid, saying the case presents a question over the extent of a state court's authority.

“There must be some limit on the authority of state courts to countermand actions taken by state legislatures when they are prescribing rules for the conduct of federal elections,” Alito wrote.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh filed a concurring opinion that the case presented substantial questions but argued that the matter should be addressed in an ordinary case rather than an emergency application.

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Republicans in both states say the respective plans will likely give Democrats a chance to retain their House majority in November's midterm elections. Both states will hold primaries May 17.