The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal action against California Governor Gavin Newsom over the state’s recently approved Proposition 50, which aims to redraw congressional district boundaries. The proposition, endorsed by voters in the election held on November 8, 2023, is anticipated to facilitate the addition of five Democratic seats in Congress, a move that may significantly influence the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
According to the DOJ, Proposition 50 contravenes the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by establishing districts that are allegedly racially gerrymandered. The DOJ argues that these new district lines were designed primarily to cater to Hispanic voters, thereby undermining the principles of fair and democratic representation.
Pam Bondi, Attorney General of Florida, described California’s redistricting initiative as a “brazen power grab” that infringes on civil rights and undermines the democratic process. She stated, “Governor Newsom’s attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand.”
The legal challenge highlights that such racially motivated redistricting is impermissible under the law. Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California, emphasized that while states have the authority to draw their congressional maps, these maps cannot be influenced by race. “Californians were sold an illegal, racially gerrymandered map, but the U.S. Constitution prohibits its use in 2026 and beyond,” he asserted.
The DOJ’s lawsuit asserts that California’s actions are unlawful. It states, “Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50.” The lawsuit further claims that California legislators and the governor promoted the initiative as a means to benefit Democrats in the midterms, while focusing on racial considerations during internal discussions.
In joining this legal action, the DOJ supports a separate lawsuit filed by California Republicans. This lawsuit contends that the California Legislature violated both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments by crafting new congressional district lines that favor Hispanic voters without legitimate justification.
“When a state unlawfully engages in racial gerrymandering, it also violates the Fifteenth Amendment, which protects citizens’ voting rights from being denied based on race or color,” the lawsuit states. It also points out that the new districts are explicitly designed to benefit a particular racial or ethnic group, a point that has raised significant legal concerns.
In summary, the DOJ’s legal challenge against California’s redistricting plan under Proposition 50 raises critical questions about the intersection of race and politics in the electoral process. As the state prepares for the upcoming elections, the implications of this lawsuit could have far-reaching consequences for the political landscape in California and beyond.
