US EditionFederal Appeals Court Affirms Washington’s Redrawn Legislative District Map
The Ninth Circuit upheld a court-drawn map to remedy Latino vote dilution, affecting over 500,000 voters and ensuring Latino communities can elect representatives of their choice, advocacy groups said.
- On August 27, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's remedial map in Soto Palmer v. Hobbs, ruling the revised Yakima Valley boundaries did not discriminate on race.
- Latino voters and advocacy groups sued in 2022, alleging the 15th Legislative District map diluted Latino voting strength; U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik ruled in August 2023 that the maps violated Section 2 and ordered a court-drawn remedial map.
- State election officials said more than 500,000 voters were moved into new districts, affecting 13 districts and displacing five Republican legislators including Senator Nikki Torres from LD-15.
- The ruling allows the remedial map to govern the 2024 ballot, and Senator Nikki Torres must move her primary residence next year to run again due to new district boundaries.
- Intervenors may seek Supreme Court review by late 2025, citing Allen v. Milligan, but appeals judges found no evidence race predominated and dismissed standing and merit claims.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Federal Appeals Court Affirms Washington’s Redrawn Legislative District Map
OLYMPIA, WA – A controversial, court-ordered redrawing of Washington’s political maps has survived another round in a lengthy legal fight. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week that the revised legislative district maps, which sought to enhance the political voice of Latino voters in the Yakima Valley, “did not discriminate on the basis of race.” In a 31-page decision issued Wednesday, the panel of three circuit judges affirmed t…
9th Circuit Court rebuffs bid to overturn WA state voting map - Everett Post
(The Center Square) – The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled in favor of a group of voters in the Yakima Valley in a case concerning recently redrawn legislative boundaries in Washington state. The court said the new boundaries for the 15th Legislative District do not discriminate based on race. This means Republican state Sen. Nikki Torres of Pasco will have to move if she wants to run again in 2026 because a new map detailing the …
MALDEF STATEMENT ON NINTH CIRCUIT DECISION IN WASHINGTON STATE REDISTRICTING CASE
SEATTLE— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday rejected appeals brought by three voters who attempted to overturn a federal district court’s ruling in Soto Palmer v. Hobbs, a case challenging Washington state’s Yakima Valley legislative map. In August 2023, the district court struck down the Washington State Redistricting Commission’s map for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and created a new court-drawn plan t…
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