The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against California Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber over the state’s newly adopted redistricting plan. The legal action challenges Proposition 50, which amends the California Constitution to allow the legislature to draw new congressional district maps. The lawsuit alleges that these maps are racially gerrymandered, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Proposition 50, passed with over 60% voter approval, replaces maps drawn by the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission with those created by the Democrat-controlled legislature. The DOJ argues that the new maps prioritize Latino demographics and racial considerations, which is unconstitutional.
“The race-based gerrymandered maps passed by the California legislature are unlawful and unconstitutional,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement issued by the Justice Department.
The lawsuit follows a similar complaint filed by the California Republican Party and other plaintiffs, who claim the maps unfairly favor Hispanic voters and could shift five Republican-held seats to Democrats in upcoming elections. The plaintiffs argue that race was the predominant factor in drawing the districts.
The DOJ’s motion to intervene in Tangipa et al. v. Newsom is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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