DOJ joins lawsuit against Newsom over ‘racial gerrymander’ of California map
In a significant legal development, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has intervened in a lawsuit challenging California Governor Gavin Newsom’s efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. This intervention comes amidst accusations that California’s redistricting plan, which aims to create districts favorable to Democrats, employs race as a “proxy” to justify its design. DOJ lawyers contend that the plan not only seeks to bolster Democratic representation but also serves as a countermeasure to redistricting efforts in Texas, which have resulted in more Republican-leaning districts. They argue that such a strategy constitutes a “racial gerrymander,” violating constitutional principles that prohibit the manipulation of district lines based on race.
The controversy stems from California’s recent passage of Proposition 50, a ballot measure that empowers the state legislature to redraw congressional districts, potentially flipping five Republican seats in the process. Following the measure’s approval, Newsom celebrated it as a necessary response to what he perceives as attempts by former President Trump and Texas lawmakers to manipulate electoral outcomes before votes are cast. In a pointed response, California Assembly Member David Tangipa, a Republican, filed a lawsuit against the governor, claiming that the redistricting plan is politically motivated and discriminatory. The DOJ’s involvement adds a federal dimension to the case, emphasizing the importance of protecting voting rights under the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits disenfranchisement based on race.
As redistricting battles intensify across the nation, California’s situation is emblematic of a broader struggle over electoral fairness and representation. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing similar issues in a separate case involving Louisiana’s congressional map, which could have significant implications for redistricting nationwide. With the stakes high in California, Texas, and beyond, the outcomes of these legal disputes will likely shape the political landscape leading up to the 2026 midterm elections. As the legal arguments unfold, both sides remain steadfast in their positions, with Newsom’s spokesperson dismissing the opposition as “losers” who have already failed at the ballot box. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities and contentious nature of redistricting in an increasingly polarized political environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlod0bxWb_0
The
Department of Justice
intervened Thursday in a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that is challenging California’s efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map in time for the next election.
DOJ Civil Rights Division lawyers argued in a complaint that race was “used as a proxy” in California to justify creating districts favorable to Democrats, a move that served to offset the redistricting showdown in Texas that resulted in more Republican-leaning districts.
“In the press, California’s legislators and governor sold a plan to promote the interests of Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections,” the DOJ lawyers wrote. “But amongst themselves and on the debate floor, the focus was not partisanship, but race.”
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS SUE TO STOP NEWSOM, DEMOCRATS FROM PUSHING REDISTRICTING PLAN
They added the Constitution “does not tolerate this racial gerrymander” and cited several remarks from lawmakers and others involved in the process about how they prioritized creating a Latino-majority district to counter Texas’ perceived attempt to “silence the voices of Latino voters.”
The federal government has authority to enforce the Voting Rights Act, which has a provision designed to make sure voters are not disenfranchised based on their race. But the law’s language has long been a point of controversy and is now under review by the
Supreme Court
in a separate redistricting case about Louisiana’s map.
California’s ballot measure, called Proposition 50, passed on Election Day, and clears the way for the state legislature to redraw districts that could flip five Republican seats. Newsom said in celebratory remarks after the measure’s passage that it was California’s answer to Trump “trying to rig the midterm elections before one single vote is even cast.”
‘DERANGED OBSESSION’: NEWSOM HIT WITH LAWSUIT OVER ‘RETALIATORY’ CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING PUSH
“One thing he never counted on, though, was the state of California,” Newsom said. “Instead of agonizing over the state of our nation, we organized in an unprecedented way, in a 90-day sprint.”
California Assembly Member David Tangipa, a Republican, responded by suing, and the DOJ joined in that lawsuit Thursday.
A spokesperson for Newsom told Fox News Digital, “These losers lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court.”
The legal battle comes as redistricting fights have intensified in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. In addition to Texas and California, Louisiana’s fight before the Supreme Court could affect its map by the next election, depending on when the high court rules. In Utah, Republicans were just
dealt a blow
by a state judge who approved a new map that will tip one of the state’s four districts in favor of Democrats.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
