California officials, Democrats and civil rights groups told the Supreme Court on Thursday the state should be able to use its new congressional map in the midterm elections this fall, arguing the lines were drawn for political rather than racial reasons. California officials argued in their filing that tossing the map would “wreak havoc” on the congressional primary campaigns, since candidates have started to collect signatures and the state starts counting mail ballots in May. The California case is the second high-profile, fast-moving appeal over the ongoing redistricting arms race to hit the Supreme Court. Last month, the Supreme Court’s majority blocked a 2-1 lower court ruling that found new Texas districts were likely racially gerrymandered. The challengers used a legal procedure that brought the case before a three-judge court and allowed a direct appeal to the Supreme Court.