The court said the petitioners lacked standing on the case
Carleen Johnson
The Center Square Washington
The 9th Circuit Court has dismissed an emergency motion regarding a recent federal court ruling on legislative district boundaries in Central Washington affecting the state’s first Hispanic lawmaker.
The court said the petitioners lacked standing on the case.
The new district boundaries map was approved by a federal judge on March 15, with the boundaries intended to amplify the voice of Latino voters in the Yakima Valley in time for elections this Fall.
In a ruling last August, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik mandated the reworking of district maps drawn in 2021, citing violations of the Voting Rights Act.
But the new boundaries come at the expense of relocating five Republican lawmakers, including Latina state Sen. Nikki Torres, who represents a substantial portion of the affected area.
No Democrat lawmakers are impacted by the new district boundaries.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Deputy Leader Mike Steele issued the following statement regarding the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision to dismiss the emergency motion to stay:
“We are profoundly disappointed by the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision on the emergency motion to delay these district changes. What’s even more troubling is the district court’s decision on March 15 to alter these maps doesn’t seem to address the claimed core issue, namely the dilution of the political voice of the Latino electorate in the Yakima Valley. The new map results in fewer eligible Latino voters in the area and moves their elected representative, the first-ever Latina senator in Central Washington, entirely out of their district.”
This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.
Also read:
- OII completes investigation into Clark County Sheriff’s Office use of deadly force in July of 2025
A 77-page OII report on the July 30, 2025 death of Branden Whitcomb now goes to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office. - VIDEO: Entrepreneur exodus continues as Washington’s new income tax looms
Venice.ai founder Jesse Proudman says Washington’s new income tax is the final blow driving him and others out of the state. - WA gets $538M in delayed COVID-era payments from FEMA
FEMA is sending $538M to Washington state health departments and hospital systems for COVID-era costs after years of delays. - Opinion: When you’ve lost Christine Gregoire, you’ve lost Washington
Former Gov. Gregoire says Washington’s $80B budget reflects a spending problem, not an income problem. - Letter: Present bridge plan has been in the expensive and unworkable planning stage far too long with no real end in sight
Brush Prairie resident Bob Mattila argues the I-5 Bridge plan doubles costs by including light rail on the span. - Letter: Stop turning gas prices into war propaganda
Camas resident Tony Teso fires back at Jonathan Hines, arguing militarism won’t lower fuel costs for working families. - Letter: Compassion requires accountability
A medical provider and downtown Vancouver resident challenges whether current homelessness policies produce measurable results.
