UPDATE: California Supreme Court Upholds State Senate Maps

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Supreme Court is upholding new state Senate maps drawn by an independent redistricting commission, dealing a blow to GOP efforts seeking to block Democrats from gaining enough seats to pass taxes on their own.

The high court on Friday announced that the Senate maps drawn last year by the citizens commission should be used in the June primary and November general election, even though an initiative challenging the map is expected to qualify for the ballot.

Republicans are seeking an initiative to overturn the new boundaries and wanted the new maps tossed out until voters decide the issue. The court first had to find whether it even had the authority to act because the GOP initiative has yet to qualify.