DOJ Escalates Redistricting Battle, Sues California Over Alleged Racial Gerrymandering

2 hours ago7 min read1 comments

The U. S.Department of Justice has escalated a political conflict into a major legal confrontation, filing a federal lawsuit against California over Proposition 50, a redistricting measure approved by voters last week. The legal challenge alleges the state engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering by designing congressional districts to predominantly benefit Hispanic voters, who represent approximately 40% of the state's population.This federal intervention, initially prompted by the California Republican Party, transforms a state dispute into a significant constitutional battle with national implications. Attorney General Pamela Bondi articulated the administration's position, stating, 'California's redistricting scheme is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process,' and directly accused Governor Gavin Newsom of engineering the effort to 'entrench one-party rule.' The governor's office responded with sharp criticism, with spokesperson Brandon Richards dismissing the lawsuit by remarking, 'These losers lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court. ' The Justice Department's complaint argues that while Proposition 50 was publicly presented as a partisan maneuver for midterm elections, internal discussions among California officials focused primarily on racial demographics.'Our Constitution does not tolerate this racial gerrymander,' the lawsuit states, adding that 'race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests. ' This legal action represents a strategic countermove to Governor Newsom's stated objective to 'completely neuter and neutralize' a similar Republican-led redistricting effort in Texas, which aimed to secure significant GOP advantages.The litigation has effectively disrupted the traditional redistricting timeline, triggering a nationwide scramble as both parties pursue advantageous maps in states including Florida, Illinois, Missouri, and New York. The court's ultimate ruling will not only influence the immediate balance of power in Congress but could establish a lasting precedent regarding the permissible use of race in political redistricting, with consequences that may shape American elections for decades.

#Justice Department

#California

#redistricting

#gerrymandering

#lawsuit

#Proposition 50

#featured

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