US Supreme Court Rejects Trump Request on California Mail Voting

On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the D onald Trump administration’s bid to block more than 20,000 disputed mail-in ballots ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections. Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Emergency Election Request The justices denied the Justice Department’s request, filed just hours earlier, refusing to require California to separate ballots cast by voters federal officials suspect may not be U.S. citizens, Reuters reported. The administration had argued that the ballots should remain uncounted until the voters’ citizenship could be verified, warning that once mixed with other ballots, they could not be retrieved. However, the Supreme Court issued a brief, one-sentence order without explaining its decision. No justice publicly dissented and the court did not seek a response from California before rejecting the request, the report said. The ruling followed setbacks for the administration in lower courts. A federal district judge rejected its initial request on Oct. 28, while the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to intervene on Friday. Read Also: Trump Rolls Out $15 Billion Farm Aid Ahead of Midterms as Diesel, Fertilizer Costs Surge Amid Iran War Newsom Celebrates Supreme Court Defeat for Trump Reacting to the decision, Newsom called it “a welcome sight for all Americans” amid what he described as the federal government’s “disgusting and dangerous attacks on our democracy.” In a subsequent post on X, the California governor declared, “California just secured a HISTORIC Supreme Court defeat against Donald Trump.” “Democracy won. VOTE!” he added. BREAKING: California just secured a HISTORIC Supreme Court defeat against Donald Trump. The Court rejected Trump’s emergency request without even asking the other side to respond — a first. Democracy won. VOTE! — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 3, 2026 In a post shared by his official handle, he said, "Justice is served." Justice is served. — Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) November 3, 2026 California has argued that the federal government’s list of suspected noncitizen voters is unreliable and could include thousands of eligible citizens. Prior to the ruling, Newsom took to X and warned Trump against interfering with California’s elections. He said that the state would hold anyone interfering with the election accountable, saying, “No presidential pardon will save you.” Donald Trump is trying to throw out 20,000 California ballots and intimidate election workers. Let me be CLEAR: If you interfere with our elections, California WILL come for you. No presidential pardon will save you. We are READY. Every eligible vote WILL be counted. pic.twitter.com/grAq6SvzWe — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 2, 2026 The Justice Department did not immediately respond to request for comment. The legal dispute comes as Republicans fight to retain control of Congress. California, a Democratic stronghold, holds 52 House seats. The U.S. Co