(Updated with Gov. Newsom statement) Donald Trump‘s 11th hour Hail Mary attempt to muddy the midterm waters in blue California has failed.
The Supreme Court just rejected the Justice Department’s request for an emergency intervention in the administration’s move to have 20,000 Golden State mail-in ballots cast aside for the time being. Even thought the list contained names that aren’t even registered and people who seem not to live in California the Trump team insisted there were noncitizens galore trying to scam the system.
Lower courts didn’t buy it, and neither did the High Court.
In an unsigned order, SCOTUS said: “The application for injunction pending appeal presented to
Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied.”
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With emergency petitions divided up among the nine Justices according to region, Justice Kagan has the West Coast beat. Interestingly, there wasn’t a dissenting opinion on the ruling.
The decision is a big loss for MAGA and big win for Democrats and CA Gov. Gavin Newsom, who have fought the DOJ over reach through the courts for weeks.
After the SCOTUS decision, Newsom said: “After repeatedly losing in the lower courts, the highest court in the land firmly slapped down the Trump DOJ’s baseless attack on California’s electoral process — not even entertaining it. The third branch of government did its job, and that should be a welcome sight for all Americans given the disgusting and dangerous attacks on our democracy by the federal government. Tomorrow, Californians can feel secure in knowing the state will carry out a free and fair election — just as we’ve always done. If you have not yet: vote, drop your ballot in a drop box, and feel good about exercising your constitutional right to vote.”
Earlier today, before the SCOTUS decision, Newsom was a bit more blunt, called Trump’s claims of illegal voters a “lie,” Addressing the legal battle, he promised the MAGA inclined that “if you interfere with our elections, California will come for you.”Putting down a states’ rights line, the outgoing governor and potential 2028 contender added: “No presidential pardon will save you.”
As of May 2026, around 85% of California’s 27.3 million eligible adults were registered to vote With mail-in ballots and polls open days before Election Day, many Californians have already cast their midterm ballots, reports indicate. Despite MAGA allegations, actual voter fraud is almost non-existent in the country’s richest and most populous stat. In fact, there is barely any voter fraud at all in the USA, despite what MAGA say.
