WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice has essentially opened the path for Michigan’s new redistricting maps for House and Senate and Congress to go forward after they ruled that the changes don’t violate the Voting Rights Act.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette asked for the changes originally, with many believing they favor Republicans in the next elections this year. Population losses were also cited as reasons for the changes. A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by the NAACP and Legislative Black Caucus will continue but reps say that It will be harder to win it now. 

The new changes would force divisions and new races between incumbents in parts of Detroit.